s^^^s^^* 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS 


STONEWALL'JACKSON 


3Y  HIS  WIFF 


THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 


THE  COLLECTION  OF 
NORTH  CAROLINIANA 

ENDOWED   BY 

JOHN  SPRUNT  HILL 
CLASS  OF  1889 


CB 


^    ^  A  v-^^^  ^'^^  ^ 


UNIVERSITY  OF  N.C.  AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


00032195231 

FOR  USE  ONLY  IN 
THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  COLLECTION 


GE^EllAL    TilUMAS   J.  JACKSON. 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS 

OF 

GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON 

(STONEWALL  JACKSON) 


BY  HIS  WIFE 

Mary  Anna  Jackson 

with  an  introduction 
By   henry   M.  field,  D.D. 


iriluBtrateD 


NEW  YORK 

HARPER  &  BROTHERS,  FRANKLIN  SQUARE 

1892 


Copyright,  1891,  by  Harper  &  Brothers. 
All  rights  reserved. 


TO 

THE  GRANDCHILDREN  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON 

JULIA    AND    JACKSON    CHRISTIAN 
^\)\5  Book  is  mebicateb 

IN    THE    PRAYERFUL    HOPE    THAT    AS    THEY    GRO\V    IxN     YEARS    THEY    MAY 

DRAW  INSPIRATION    FROM    HIS    EXAMPLE,  AND  CONFORM    THEIR    LIVES 

TO   THE    SAME    EXALTED    STANDARD   OF    CHRISTIAN    DUTY,  ^VHICH 

MARKED   THE   CHARACTER  OF  THEIR  GRANDSIRE,  AND   WHICH 

WAS    ALSO   REFLECTED    IN   THE    LIFE  OF   THEIR  YOUNG 

MOTHER,  WHO  WITH  GENTLE  FOOTSTEPS  FOLLOWED 

HER   FATHER    AS   HE    FOLLOWED    JESUS 


PREFACE. 


For  many  years  after  the  death  of  my  husband  the 
shadow  over  my  hfe  Avas  so  deep,  and  all  that  con- 
cerned him  Avas  so  sacred,  that  I  could  not  consent  to 
lift  the  veil  to  the  public  gaze.  But  time  softens,  if  it 
does  not  heal,  the  bitterest  sorrow ;  and  the  pleadings 
of  his  only  child,  after  reaching  Avomanhood,  finally 
prevailed  upon  me  to  Avrite  out  for  her  and  her  chil- 
dren my  memories  of  the  father  she  had  never  known 
on  earth.  She  was  m\^  inspiration,  encouraging  me, 
and  delighting  in  every  page  that  Avas  Avritten ;  but 
the  Avork  Avas  not  more  than  half  completed  Avhen 
God  took  her  to  be  Avith  him  Avhose  memory  she  cher- 
ished Avith  a  reverence  and  devotion  Avhich  became 
more  intense  Avith  the  development  of  her  own  pure 
and  noble  character.  After  her  departure,  Avhich  Avas 
truly  '•  sorrow's  crown  of  sorroAvs,"  I  had  no  heart  to 
continue  the  Avork ;  but,  remembering  hoAV  earnestly 
she  Avished  me  to  Avrite  it  for  her  and  her  children,  I 
renewed  the  effort  to  finish  it,  for  the  sake  of  the  pre- 
cious little  ones  she  left.  In  forcing  my  mind  and  pen 
to  do  their  task,  I  found  some  ''  surcease  of  sorrow  " 
in  carrvmo;  out  her  Avishes;  and,  as  I  AA^ent  on,  the 


Vi  PREFACE. 

grand  lessons  of  submission  and  fortitude  of  nw  hus- 
band's life  gave  me  strength  and  courage  to  ])ersevere 
to  the  end. 

If  it  be  thought  that  I  have  been  too  free  in  my 
revelations  of  what  was  so  purely  personal,  in  that  it 
pertained  to  his  home  circle,  it  must  be  remembered 
that  this  Avas  written  expressly  for  his  grandchildren, 
who  in  no  other  way  could  ever  know  that  tender  and 
exquisite  ])hase  of  his  inner  life,  wJiich  was  never  re- 
vealed to  the  world. 

Maky  An^^a  Jackson. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER 


PAGE 


I.  THE  OLD  ENGLISH  AND  SCOTCH-IRISH  STOCK.     .     .       1, 

n.  "THE  BOY  IS  FATHER  OF  THE  MAN" 14 

in.  FOUR  YEARS  AT  WEST  POINT— 1842-1846     ....     30 

lY.  THE  WAR  WITH  MEXICO— 1846-1848 40 

Y.  TEN  YEARS    IN    THE    YIRGINIA   MILITARY    INSTI- 
TUTE—1851-1861     51 

VL  THE  PROFESSOR— TRIP  TO  EUROPE— 1851-1856    .     .     81 
VIL  SECOND  MARRIAGE.— HOME  LIFE— 185V-1 858   ...     89 

YIII.  HOME  LIFE  CONTINUED— 1858-1859 112 

IX.  WAR  CLOUDS— 1860-1861 133 

X.  HARPER'S  FERRY— 1861 148 

XL  THE  FIRST  BATTLE  OF  MANASSAS 174 

XIL  WINCHESTER  AND  ROMNEY  EXPEDITION— 1861-2.  203 
XIIL  KERNSTOWN,  McDOWELL,  AND  WINCHESTER.— 1862.  236 
XIY.  CROSS  KEYS  AND  PORT  REPUBLIC— 1862     ....  266 

XY.  THE  RICHMOND  CAMPAIGN— 1862 289 

XVL  RAISING  THE  BLACK  FLAG.  — A  NEW  PLAN  OF 
CAMPAIGN.  —  MOYABLE  COLUMNS  TO  INYADE 
THE  NORTH 307 


viii  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  PAGK 

XVII.  CEDAR    RUN    AND    THE   SECOND    BATTLE   OF    MA- 
NASSAS  3-22 

XVIII.  MARYLAND  CAMRAKIX  AND  SIIARPSBURG— 1862 .     .  343 

XIX.  HOME  JOYS.— BIRTH  OF  A  DAUGHTER 367 

XX.  THE  BATTLE  OF  FREDERICKSBURG 378 

XXI.  AVINTER- QUARTERS,     CHAPLAINS,    AND       CORRE- 
SPONDENCE—1862-3  395 

XXn.  THE  LAST  HAPPY  DAYS.— CHANCELLORSVILLK    .     .  421 
XXIII.   IX  THE  VALLEY  OF  THE  SHADOW.— AT  REST.     .     .  447 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE 

General  Thomas  J.  Jackson Frontispiece. 

Father  of  Stonewall  Jackson Facing  page   8 

Birthplace  of  General  Jackson,  Clarksburg, 

West  Virginia 15 

Stonewall  Jackson  at  the  Age  op  Twenty- 
four  Facing  page  48 

View  Near  Lexington "  53 

The  Virginia  Military  Institute 54 

The  Jackson  Dwelling,  Lexington 107 

"Old  Sorrel" 173 

Monument  AVhere  Jackson  Fell,  at  Chancellorsville  .  446 
The  Jackson  Statue  by  Foley,  Kichmond  .  .  Facing  page  478 
Jackson's  Tomb,  Lexington,  Virginia 479 


INTllODUCTION. 


The  time  has  come  when  we  can  do  justice  to 
those  who  were  once  in  arms  against  us.  Our  heroes, 
on  the  one  side  and  on  the  other,  are  nearly  all  gone 
to  the  grave.  As  they  drew  near  the  end,  those  who 
had  been  separated  in  unnatural  strife  felt  the  old 
love  come  back  again,  and  yearned  for  mutual  recog- 
nition. General  Grant,  on  his  death-bed,  opened  his 
heart  to  General  Buckner,  speaking  with  the  utmost 
tenderness  of  the  South,  which  had  suffered  so  much. 
It  was  his  dying  wish  that  all  her  wounds  might 
be  healed ;  and  that  henceforth  the  North  and  the 
South  should  stand  together,  equal  partners  in  one 
glorious  Union.  It  is  only  a  few  months  since  Gen- 
eral Sherman  was  borne  through  our  streets,  and 
among  those  who  followed  at  his  bier  was  his  great 
adversary,  General  Johnston,  who,  by  a  singular  co- 
incidence, survived  him  but  a  few  weeks.  Thus  the 
warriors  who  once  "to  battle  rode"  at  the  head  of 
hostile  armies,  now  fall  into  line  in  the  great  proces- 
sion to  that  realm  of  silence  in  which  all  enmities  are 
buried. 

In  this  bearing  of  our  great  soldiers  towards  each 


xii  INTRODUCTION. 

Other,  they  Avho  were  "first  in  war"  were  also  '"first 
in  peace;"  and  it  were  well  if  they  should  remain 
''first  in  the  hearts  of  their  countrymen,"  as  the 
leaders  whom  we  are  to  follow  in  the  work  of  re- 
union. '-  ^Vhy,  then,  do  we  recall  the  memories  of  a 
war  that  is  ended,  and  that  had  better  be  forgotten  ? 
Let  the  dead  past  bury  its  dead."  But  out  of  that 
dead  past  comes  the  living  present.  A  great  Avar 
cannot  be  forgotten.  If  it  were  only  as  a  terrific 
explosion  of  human  passion,  a  tragedy  of  which  all 
the  world  are  spectators — it  would  have  a  terrible 
fascination.  Civil  war  has  a  still  more  tragic  interest, 
as  it  is  a  war  between  brothers,  and,  though  family 
quarrels  are  proverbially  bitter,  yet  all  the  while,  deep 
down  in  our  hearts,  there  is  a  lingering  tenderness 
that  other  times  and  other  scenes  may  awaken  again. 
To  rekindle  this  feeling,  if  it  be  not  the  design  of 
the  present  volume,  cannot  fail  to  be  one  result  of  it. 
It  is  a  poor  reconciliation  which  is  obtained  only  by 
agreeing  never  to  speak  of  the  past.  It  is  the  very 
thing  of  which  we  should  speak,  kindly  indeed,  but 
Avithout  reserve.  Men  Avho  are  honest  and  braA^e 
have  nothing  to  be  ashamed  of  and  nothing  to  con- 
ceal ;  and  the  better  they  know  each  other,  the  more 
Avill  they  be  draAvn  together  by  the  mutual  attraction 
of  noble  characters.  Besides,  the  four  years  of  our  Civil 
AVar  Avere  in  some  respects  the  grandest  since  the 
nation  Avas  born.  AAvful,  terrible,  it  is  true,  but  mag- 
nificent and  sublime.  Then  for  the  first  time  tlie 
American  people  learned  Avhat  stuff  they  Avere  made 


INTRODUCTION.  xiii 

of.  For  the  development  of  character  those  four 
years  were  better  than  a  hundred  years  of  unbroken 
prosperity.  Better  than  all  the  summer  sunshine  on 
ripening  harvests  were  the  thunders  and  lightnings 
that  woke  a  nation  to  life,  and  gave  it  the  full  con- 
sciousness of  its  power.  Never  did  our  countrymen 
rise  to  such  heights  of  courage  and  devotion.  Never 
did  they  perform  such  deeds,  or  make  such  sacrifices. 
We  must  be  sunk  low  indeed  if  we  are  capable  of 
forgetting  the  most  splendid  period  of  American 
histor}^ 

Nor  would  we  have  our  annals  limited  to  those 
who  fought  on  the  side  that  was  victorious.  A  na- 
tion's life  is  counted  not  by  years,  but  by  genera- 
tions. A  generation  that  was  distinguished  by  its 
w^ars  is  followed  by  one  that  is  devoted  to  the  arts 
of  peace;  and  sons  may  be  proud  of  the  deeds  of 
their  fathers,  and  yet  not  think  it  a  part  of  loyalty 
to  keep  alive  their  hatreds.  Indeed,  there  comes  a 
time  when  the  great  figures  that  pass  before  us  on 
the  canvas  of  history  are  so  blended  that  we  hard- 
ly distinguish  friends  from  foes,  but  recognize  them 
all  as  actors  in  a  time  that  is  forever  past.  And 
so  we  can  read  the  story  of  Lee  and  of  Jackson 
with  no  wish  to  depreciate  their  greatness,  but 
claimino:  it   as   belono^in^"  to  us,  since,  if  thev  were 

O  0  0  7  7^. 

Southerners,  they  were  also  Americans,  and  their 
illustrious  names  are  a  part  of  our  common  inheri- 
tance of  glory.  Therefore  it  is  that  we  welcome  a 
tale  of  war  which  niav  be  said  to  be  told  in  the  in- 


xiv  INTRODUCTIOX. 

terest  of  peace,  as  it  describes  a  career  that  illustrates 
some  of  the  noblest  qualities  of  human  character. 
Believing  that  a  generous  recognition  of  ^vhat  was 
true  and  brave  on  both  sides  is  the  surest  pledge  of 
complete  reconciliation,  I  count  it  a  privilege  to 
have  a  part,  however  slight,  in  this  tribute  to  a 
Christian  soldier,  who,  if  he  were  ''not  with  us  but 
against  us,''  showed  such  high  qualities,  such  power 
of  command,  such  fortitude,  and  such  true  moral 
greatness,  as  to  be  worthy  of  the  honor  of  us  all. 

Stonewall  Jackson  was  the  most  picturesque  figure 
in  the  war.  Xot  so  high  in  command  as  General 
Lee  on  the  one  side,  or  General  Grant  on  the  other, 
neither  had  a  personality  so  unique.  In  Jackson 
there  were  two  men  in  one  :  he  united  qualities  that 
are  not  only  alien  to  each  other,  but  that  seem  almost 
incompatible — mihtary  genius  of  the  highest  order 
with  a  religious  fervor  that  bordered  on  fanaticism ;  a 
union  of  the  soldier  and  the  saint  for  which  we  must 
go  back  to  the  time  of  Cromwell.  A  thunderbolt  in 
war,  he  was  in  society  so  modest  and  unassuming  as 
to  appear  even  shy  and  timid.  A  character  in  wliich 
such  contradictions  are  combined  is  one  of  the  most 
fascinating  studies  to  be  found  in  American  history. 

One  view  of  this  extraordinary  man  has  already 
been  given  to  the  world.  In  the  great  o})erations  of 
w^ar  he  was  a  character  apart;  a  man  of  myster}^; 
silent  and  uncommunicative  ;  wrapping  himself  in  his 
reserve  as  in  a  military  cloak;  asking  no  advice;  form- 
ing his  own  plans,  which  those  nearest  to  him  could 


INTRODUCTION.  XV 

not  penetrate  and  hardly  dared  to  conjecture,  and 
which  were  disclosed  even  to  his  military  family  only 
when  he  gave  his  orders  for  the  march  and  the  battle. 
Such  is  Stonewall  Jackson  as  his  martial  figure  passes 
before  us  on  the  canvas  of  history. 

But  such  is  not  the  figure  which  it  is  the  purpose  of 
this  volume  to  portray.  The  author  has  no  thought  of 
adding  one  more  to  the  histories  of  the  military  career 
of  General  Jackson.  That  has  been  written  by  his  old 
companions  in  arms,  and  by  military  critics  at  home 
and  abroad  who  have  made  a  study  of  his  campaigns, 
following  on  the  map  those  rapid  marches  in  which  he 
was  not  surpassed  by  I^apoleon  in  his  first  campaigns 
in  Italy  ;  and  finding  in  his  peculiar  strategy  enough 
to  give  him  a  place  among  the  great  captains  of  the 
age. 

But  with  Jackson,  as  with  others  who  have  acted  a 
great  part  in  pubhc  affairs,  there  was  another  side  to 
the  man — an  inner  life,  known  but  to  few,  and  fully 
known  only  to  her  who  was  united  to  him  in  the 
closest  of  all  human  relations.  Of  the  war  itself  she 
has  but  little  to  tell  us  ;  for  he  did  not  confide  his 
plans  even  to  her.  It  Avas  not  that  he  distrusted  her 
womanly  discretion  ;  but,  in  the  midst  of  thousands  of 
watchful  eyes,  had  he  disclosed  to  her  the  dangers  into 
which  he  was  going,  her  cheek  might  have  blanched 
with  fear,  or  a  shade  of  anxiety  passed  over  her 
countenance  that  would  have  set  all  to  wondering 
what  it  meant.  Only  when  he  signified  that  she 
should  retire  to  a  place  of  safety  had  she  a  forebod- 


Xvi  INTRODUCTION. 

ing  of  what  was  to  come ;  though  she  knew  not  in 
Avhat  direction  he  was  to  move,  nor  how,  nor  when, 
nor  where  he  was  to  strike.  Diit,  ^vith  a  Avoman's  loy- 
alty to  her  husband  and  her  faith  in  God,  she  was 
content  not  to  know,  and  prayed  only  for  tlie  gift 
of  patience  as  she  waited  for  the  event. 

But  when  the  battle  was  over,  then  the  tidings 
came !  Now  we  expect  to  know  everything  from  the 
chief  actor.  But  again  we  are  disappointed,  for  in  his 
letters,  even  when  written  from  a  field  of  battle,  there 
is  no  attempt  to  describe  it,  and  hardly  an  allusion  to 
it,  except  in  a  general  way,  in  the  expression  that  often 
recurs  in  his  letters,  that  "by  the  blessing  of  Almighty 
God  their  arms  have  been  crowned  with  victory." 

But  this  extreme  reticence,  which  at  first  is  a  disap- 
pointment, when  looked  at  a  little  more  closely  is  a 
revelation  of  tlie  man,  as  it  shows  the  supreme  self- 
command,  which  could  turn  at  once  from  the  terrible 
excitement  of  war  and  direct  his  thoughts  into  a 
channel  so  remote  that  it  carried  him  quite  away  in 
an  opposite  direction.  While  the  battle  raged  he  sat 
on  his  horse  unmoved  in  the  very  front  of  danger ;  but 
when  the  crisis  was  past,  and  he  could  be  spared  from 
the  field,  even  though  the  thunders  were  still  rolling 
in  the  distance,  he  rode  back  with  the  tension  of  his 
mind  relaxed,  and  entering  his  tent,  "  shut  to  the 
door,"  and  calmed  his  spirit  in  the  presence  of  God. 

Next  to  the  acknowledgment  of  his  Maker  was  the 
thouirht  of  home,  and  of  the  vouno:  mother  Avitli  his 
child  in  her  arms  !     The  man  of  war  was  at  the  same 


INTRODUCTION.  Xvii 

time  the  most  domestic  of  men.  All  his  heart  was 
centred  in  one  spot.  Many  who  read  these  pages  will 
be  surprised  at  the  revelation  of  his  passionate  love  of 
home,  to  which  he  was  eager  to  return,  though  he  Avas 
never  to  cross  its  threshold  again.  While  the  world 
saw  only  the  soldier  with  a  coat  of  mail  over  his 
breast,  those  who  knew  him  best  saw  under  it  a  great 
human  heart.  Above  all,  to  her  who  looked  up  in  his 
face  with  perfect  trust  and  confidence,  that  face  was 
open  as  the  day.  To  her  this  man  of  iron  was  the 
gentlest  and  tenderest  of  human  beings ;  whose  first 
thought  was  always  for  her ;  whose  strong  arm  guard- 
ed her  from  harm ;  Avho  would  not  ^'  that  even  the 
winds  of  summer  should  visit  her  too  roughly." 

Such  devotion  cannot  be  forgotten  even  after  the 
lapse  of  a  quarter  of  a  century.  Still  the  yearning 
heart  turns  fondly  to  the  past.  Still  the  faithful 
bosom  carries  within  it  a  great  memory  and  a  great 
affection.  As  she  looks  bacE  through  the  mist  of 
years,  she  sees  not  the  military  hero,  the  idol  of  the 
army,  riding  down  the  line  of  battle,  but  the  husband 
of  her  youth,  still  the  same.  In  her  quiet  hours,  as 
she  sits  by  her  desolate  fireside,  the  old  days  come 
again,  and  they  are  once  more  in  the  home  that  was 
always  made  bright  by  the  sunshine  of  his  presence. 
They  sit  round  the  old  hearthstone,  and  kneel  to- 
gether in  prayer,  and  walk  to  the  house  of  God  in 
company. 

Filled  with  such  memories,  it  is  but  the  impulse  of 
loyalty  to  the  dead  that  she  should  Avish  that  others 


xviii  INTRODUCTION. 

should  know  liim  whose  name  she  bears  as  she  knew 
him  ;  that  the  world  should  appreciate  not  only  the 
soldier,  but  the  man ;  that  they  should  know  all  the 
irentleness  and  the  tenderness  that  were  in  that  lion 
heart.  This  is  revealed  nowhere  so  fully  as  in  his 
letters  to  her  during  the  war,  which  those  who  have 
been  permitted  to  see  them  privately  have  earnestly 
requested  to  have  given  to  the  public.  If  to  anv  they 
seem  too  personal,  I  answer,  that  they  are  not  to  be 
judged  coldly  and  critically,  but  with  the  sympathetic 
feeling  of  those  who  are  themselves  cajmble  of  such 
tenderness ;  and  I  have  met  the  womanly  shyness  and 
timidity  that  shrank  from  this  "  unveiling,"  by  saying, 
"  Yes,  you  can  leave  it  all  out,  and  in  every  case  you 
can  replace  the  word  of  endearment  by  a  blank ;  but 
every  time  you  do  this  you  leave  out  a  touch  of 
Stonewall  Jackson,  for  this  fond  devotion,  this  ex- 
quisite tenderness,  was  a  part  of  the  man  as  truly  as 
his  military  genius.  Sacred,  indeed,  are  these  words 
of  the  dead,  but  nothing  is  too  sacred  to  be  devoted 
to  such  a  memory."  Knowing,  as  she  only  can  know, 
all  his  w-orth— that  he  was  not  only  strong  and  brave, 
but  tender  and  true,  with  a  heart  as  soft  as  her  own, 
and  that  the  nearer  men  came  to  him  the  more  they 
loved  him— she  is  right  to  let  him  speak  for  himself 
in  these  gentle  words  that  are  whispered  from  the 
dust.  And  sure  we  are  that  those  who  have  read  all  the 
erreat  histories  of  the  Avar  Avill  turn  with  fresh  interest 
to  this  simple  story,  written  out  of  a  woman's  heart. 

IIeNKY   ]\r.   FlKLI). 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS 

OF 

GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON 


CHAPTER   I. 

THE   OLD   ENGLISH  AND    SCOTCH- IRISH   STOCK. 

In  the  year  IT'lS  a  ship  sailed  from  the  coast  of 
EDgland,  bearing  a  number  of  passengers  who  were 
seeking  new  homes  in  the  British  colonies  of  Amer- 
ica. In  this  vessel  were  a  young  man  and  a  young 
woman,  both  from  the  city  of  London,  but  who  were 
probably  unknown  to  each  other  when  they  embarked 
for  the  strange  land  to  which  they  were  bound. 

The  young  man,  John  Jackson,  was  about  twenty- 
three  years  of  age,  and  was  endowed  with  many  of 
the  qualities  which  insure  success  in  life — being  true 
and  upright,  active  and  energetic,  of  quiet  but  deter- 
mined character ;  and  he  needed  only  the  help  of  the 
noble  woman  whom  God  gave  him  as  a  wife  to  make 
his  home  in  the  forest  a  happy  and  prosperous  one. 
He  was  small  of  stature,  but  of  good  mind  and  sound 
judgment,  and  left  the  impress  upon  his  generation  of 
great  goodness,  industry,  and  tranquil  courage.  He 
was  of  Scotch -Irish  descent,  and  when,  fifty  years 
after  he  left  England,  his  eldest  son,  George  Jackson, 
1 


2  LIFE  OF   GENERAL   THOMAS   J.  JaCKSOX. 

was  a  member  of  Congress  at  the  same  time  that 
Andrew  Jackson  was  Senator  from  Tennessee,  they 
found,  on  comparing  notes,  that  their  ancestors  came 
from  the  same  parish  near  Londonderry. 

Ehzabeth  Cummins,  the  young  woman  wlio  Avas  the 
fellow  -  passenger  of  John  Jackson,  was  a  handsome 
blonde,  with  the  stature  of  a  man,  six  feet  in  height, 
and  as  remarkable  for  strength  of  intellect  as  for 
beauty  and  physical  vigor.  She  Avas  well  educated, 
her  father  having  been  in  sufficiently  easy  circum- 
stances to  own  and  rent  out  a  public-house  in  Lon- 
don called  ''  The  Bold  Dragoon,"  from  which  he  de- 
rived a  good  income,  and  he  was  supposed  to  own 
landed  estates  in  Ireland.  After  his  death,  his  widow 
married  her  brother-in-law — a  marriage  which  was  so 
repulsive  to  her  daughter  that  she  could  not  become 
reconciled  to  it.  Her  step-father,  who  was  also  her 
uncle,  one  day  aroused  her  indignation  to  such  a 
pitch  that  with  her  powerful  arm  she  hurled  a  silver 
tankard  at  his  head,  and  then  fled  from  her  home. 
She  scarcely  missed  her  aim,  it  is  supposed,  for,  young 
as  she  Avas — not  more  than  fifteen  or  sixteen — she  was 
not  of  a  nature  to  do  things  by  halves.  However,  the 
unfortunate  man  must  have  recovered  from  the  broken 
head,  or  family  tradition  would  have  recorded  his 
death.  It  Avas  the  custom  at  that  time  for  emigrants 
Avho  had  not  the  means  of  paying  for  their  passage 
across  the  Atlantic  to  bind  themselves  for  a  certain 
term  of  service  on  reaching  the  colonies.  As  the  cir- 
cumstances of  Elizabeth's  flight  made  it  impossible 
for  her  to  procure  money  for  her  journey,  she  proA^ed 
her  heroism  by  adopting  this  mode  of  escaping  from 
a  life  Avhich  had  become  intolerable  to  her. 


THE   OLD   ENGLISH   STOCK.  3 

John  Jackson  Avas  so  captivated  with  this  stately 
Saxon  beauty,  that  he  eagerly  offered  her  his  heart, 
his  hand,  and  his  purse,  but  she  proudly  refused  his 
assistance.  During  the  voyage  she  formed  the  friend- 
ship of  a  famil}^  bound  for  Maryland,  and  accepted 
their  offer  of  a  home  and  employment,  and  thus  earned 
the  money  to  pay  her  passage.  John  Jackson's  devo- 
tion, however,  made  an  impression  upon  her  heart, 
and  a  year  or  two  later  they  were  married  in  Calvert 
County,  Maryland,  he  also  having  settled  in  the  pos- 
sessions of  Lord  Baltimore  upon  his  arrival  in  the 
New  World.  It  is  natural  to  suppose  that  Elizabeth 
was  the  magnet  that  kept  him  from  wandering  farther 
until  he  succeeded  in  winning  her  for  his  wife.  The 
young  couple,  in  their  desire  to  find  new  and  cheaper 
lands,  moved  at  once  to  Western  Virginia,  and  made 
their  first  home  upon  the  south  branch  of  the  Poto- 
mac,  at  the  place  now  known  as  Moorfields,  the  county 
seat  of  Hardy  County.  But  after  a  short  residence  in 
this  beautiful  valley,  the  enterprising  spirit  of  the  pair 
led  them  to  seek  broader  lands,  and  they  crossed  the 
Alleghany  ridge,  and  settled  upon  the  Buckhannon 
Eiver,  at  a  place  which  was  long  known  as  Jackson's 
Fort,  but  is  now  the  little  village  of  Buckhannon. 
Here,  surrounded  by  the  Indian  tribes,  who  were  still 
contending  with  the  whites  for  the  possession  of  the 
lands,  the  settlers  were  often  attacked  by  these  treach- 
erous foes.  For  their  protection  the  whites  were  com- 
pelled to  build  stockade  forts,  to  which  they  fled  with 
their  families  in  times  of  danger.  Tradition  has  pre- 
served many  instances  of  the  intrepid  spirit  which 
Elizabeth  Jackson  displayed  on  these  occasions.  She 
never  quailed  at  the  sound  of  the  war-whoop,  and  her 


4       LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

voice  was  heard,  not  only  in  sootliing  and  .cheering 
the  women  and  children,  bnt  in  inspiring  the  men  to 
heroic  resistance. 

When  the  American  Eevolution  broke  out  in  1775, 
John  Jackson  and  his  older  sons  bore  their  part  in  it 
as  soldiers,  and  at  its  close  returned  to  their  homes 
and  devoted  themselves  to  the  improvement  of  their 
fortunes.  The  patriarch,  John,  and  his  true  help- 
meet, Elizabeth,  by  their  sagacity  and  industry  ac- 
quired the  most  valuable  lands  of  the  country,  and 
were  enabled  to  endow  each  one  of  their  eight  chil- 
dren with  a  farm.  Indeed,  it  is  said  that  several 
patents  are  still  in  existence,  transmitted  to  Elizabeth 
Jackson,  in  her  own  name — lands  which  proved  valu- 
able property  to  her  descendants.  Their  eldest  son 
was  Colonel  George  Jackson,  who  lived  at  Clarks- 
burg, Harrison  County,  and  who  received  his  title 
in  the  Eevolutionar}^  war.  He  represented  his  State  in 
the  General  Assembly  of  Virginia,  and  also  in  Congress. 
After  the  death  of  his  father  he  removed  to  Zanesville, 
Ohio,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

The  second  son  was  Edward,  the  grandfather  of  the 
subject  of  this  memoir.  He  made  his  home  in  Lewis 
County,  about  four  miles  from  the  village  of  Weston, 
and  was  a  vigorous  and  energetic  man,  esteemed  and 
beloved,  and  for  a  long  time  was  surveyor  of  that 
region  of  country — a  business  that  was  very  lucrative 
in  those  early  days,  and  he  acquired  a  large  estate. 
He  first  married  a  Miss  Hadden,  by  whom  he  had  three 
sons,  George,  David,  and  Jonathan,  and  three  daugh- 
ters, of  whom  one  married  a  man  named  White,  and 
the  other  two  married  brothers  of  the  name  of  Brake. 

A  second  marriage  added  to  his  family  nine  more 


DEATH    OF   THE   OLD    PIONEER.  5 

sons  and  daughters,  among  whom  was  Cummins,  the 
kind  half-uncle  who  befriended  Thomas  J.  Jackson  in 
his  youth,  and  the  only  one,  so  far  as  we  know,  that 
had  much  to  do  with  his  early  life. 

In  their  declining  years  the  old  couple,  John  and 
Elizabeth  Jackson,  removed  to  the  town  of  Clarks- 
burg, to  be  near  their  eldest  son,  George,  and  the  death 
of  the  aged  sire  is  thus  described  by  his  grandson, 
John  G.  Jackson,  in  a  letter  to  Mrs.  President  Madi- 
son, whose  sister  he  had  married  in  1801 : 

"  Death,  on  the  25th  of  September,  put  a  period  to 
the  existence  of  my  aged  grandfather,  John  Jackson, 
in  the  eighty-sixth  year  of  his  age.  The  long  life  of 
this  good  man  was  spent  in  those  noble  and  virtuous 
pursuits  which  endear  men  to  their  acquaintance,  and 
make  their  decease  sincerely  regretted  by  all  the  good 
and  virtuous.  He  was  a  native  of  England,  and  mi- 
grated hither  in  the  year  1748.  He  took  an  active 
part  in  the  Revolutionary  war  in  favor  of  indepen- 
dence, and,  upon  the  establishment  of  it,  returned  to 
his  farming,  which  he  laboriously  pursued  until  the 
marriage  of  his  youngest  son,  when  he  w^as  prevailed 
upon  by  my  father  to  come  and  reside  near  him  ;  there 
he  lived  several  years  Avith  his  wife,  enjoying  all  his 
mental  faculties  and  great  corporeal  strength,  until  a 
few  days  before  his  death.  I  saw  him  breathe  his  last 
in  the  arms  of  my  aged  grandmother,  and  can  truly 
add,  that  to  live  and  die  as  he  did  would  be  the  ex- 
cess of  happiness.  He  left  a  valuable  estate  at  the  en- 
tire disposal  of  the  widow,  with  the  concurrence  of  all 
the  natural  heirs,  as  his  liberality  had  been  amply  ex- 
perienced by  them  all  in  his  lifetime." 


Q  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

The  stout-hearted  wife  of  his  youth  survived  him 
until  1825,  living  to  the  extreme  age  of  o?ie  hu7idred 
atidjive  years!  A  great-granddaughter  describes  her 
at  the  age  of  a  centur}^  as  being  well  preserved  and 
verv  interesting,  and  greatly  beloved  and  revered  by 
her  long  line  of  descendants. 

Bv  her  rare  physical  and  intellectual  stamina,  this 
remarkable  woman  was  fitted  to  be  the  mother  of  a 
strong  and  noble  race  ;  and  those  of  her  descendants 
who  have  met  with  any  success  in  life  have  shown  the 
same  clear  intellect,  sterling  integrity,  and  force  of 
will.  The  house  of  Jackson  has  much  to  be  thankful 
for  in  both  of  these  pioneer  progenitors,  for  John  Jack- 
son himself,  according  to  tradition,  was  the  equal  of 
his  wife  in  uprightness,  energy,  and  courage.  General 
Jackson  always  had  a  pride  in  his  ancestry,  and  wished 
that  the  high  character  of  the  fathers  should  be  per- 
petuated in  their  descendants.  Before  the  war,  when 
one  of  his  relatives  was  a  candidate  for  some  political 
office,  he  took  the  liveliest  interest  in  his  election,  and 
wrote  several  letters  in  his  behalf,  one  to  his  cousin, 
Judge  William  L.  Jackson  (at  that  time  Lieutenant- 
Governor  of  Virginia),  urging  his  support,  and  saying : 
"I  am  most  anxious  to  see  our  family  enjoying  that 
high  standard  and  influence  which  it  possessed  in  days 
of  yore."  He  always  said  his  Jackson  relations  were 
very  clannish,  and  he  himself  was  warm  in  his  family 
attachments,  taking  an  interest  in  eve?y  worthy  person 
who  had  a  drop  of  his  blood  in  his  veins. 

One  of  the  most  distinguished  sons  of  the  house  was 
John  G.  Jackson,  of  Clarksburg,  the  eldest  son  of 
Colonel  George  Jackson.  He  Avas  an  eminent  lawyer, 
succeeded  his  father  in  Congress,  and  was  appointed 


JUDGE  JACKSOX.  7 

the  first  Federal  Judge  of  the  AYestern  District  of 
Virginia.  He  married  Miss  Payne,  sister  of  "  pretty 
Dolly  Madison,"  the  much-admired  wife  of  President 
James  Madison.-  A  second  wife  was  the  only  daugh- 
ter of  Governor  Meigs,  of  Ohio.  He  died  in  the  prime 
of  life  in  the  same  year  with  his  venerable  grand- 
mother, 1825,  aged  forty-eight  years. 


*  The  folloAving  letter  from  Mrs.  President  Madison  to  Judge 
Jackson,  expressing  herself  in  regard  to  the  illness  of  her  sister 
(his  wife),  will  be  of  interest : 

"Washington,  D.  C,  January  12th,  1807. 

"  Oh,  my  dear  brother,  your  letter  has  plunged  me  in  the  deepest 
distress  !  What  can  I  do  for  that  beloved  sister  whose  image  and 
whose  suflferings,  I  can  say  w^itli  truth,  have  never  for  an  hour 
been  absent  from  my  mind  ?  Week  after  week  have  I  looked  and 
prepared  to  receive  and  to  nurse  my  dear  Polly,  and  now,  alas  I  she 
is  too  ill  [for  me]  to  expect  at  all.  I  have  consulted  everybody,  my 
dear  Jackson,  w'hose  judgment  I  could  trust,  and  have  been  flattered 
witli  the  hope,  from  them  and  my  owm  opinion,  that  she  would  get 
well.    Oh  that  Heaven  may  spare  her  to  you  and  to  us,  my  brother  ! 

"I  send  you  Doctor  Jones's  letter,  whom  I  have  seen  and  con- 
versed with  a  great  deal. — You  cannot  doubt  your  sister's  love  for 
you,  and  her  soul-felt  sympathy. 

"Hasten  to  tell  me  your  hopes  are  revived,  and  that  I  may  yet 
see  you  leading  to  us  my  precious  sister  and  your  children.  How 
dreary,  how  forlorn,  does  this  w^orld  appear  without  you  all !  I 
cannot  express  to  you  the  desolation  that  seems  to  surround  me 
since  I  received  yours  of  the  7th. 

"  All  here  is  bustle  and  confusion,  on  account  of  Rose's  arrival, 
the  quarrels  in  Congress,  and  the  multitude  of  strangers  j  but  it 
falls  upon  my  senses  like  the  gloom  of  death  I 

"I  hope  'My.  Madison  will  get  time  to  write  to  you.  I  feel 
scarcely  able  to  hold  my  pen.  Prepare  for  the  next  jDost,  and 
tell  me  of  your  sweet  little  Mary  also. 

"  Ever  your  affectionate  sister,  Dolly  P.  Madison. 

"Anna  is  well,  and  feels  for  you  as  she  ought.     Adieu." 


8        LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

The  other  sons  of  Colonel  George  were  Echvard,  a 
•physician;  William  L.,  a  lawyer,  and  father  of  the 
judge  of  the  same  name  (now  living  in  Louisville, 
Ky.) ;  and  George  "Washington,  the  father  of  Colonel 
Alfred  H.  Jackson,  who  was  a  staff-officer  of  General 
Jackson,  was  mortally  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Cedar 
Run,  and  lies  buried  near  his  beloved  commander  in 
the  cemetery  at  Lexington,  Virginia. 

Jonathan  Jackson,  son  of  Edward,  and  the  father  of 
Thomas  Jonathan,  like  his  grandfather,  John,  was  a 
man  of  short  stature.  There  is  a  beautiful  miniature 
of  him,  representing  an  open,  pleasing  face,  blue  e3^es, 
and  handsome  mouth.  He  was  a  lawver,  having 
studied  his  profession  with  his  distinguished  cousin, 
Judge  John  G.  Jackson,  whose  patronage  induced  him 
to  settle  at  Clarksburg,  and  soon  afterwards  he  mar- 
ried Juha  Beck  with  Xeale,  the  daughter  of  a  merchant 
of  Parkersburg. 

The  following  facts  relative  to  the  Neale  family  and 
also  to  Jonathan  Jackson  wei^e  furnished  by  Dr.  David 
Creel,  a  connection  of  the  Xeales ;  and  as  they  were 
written  in  his  ninety-first  year,  this,  together  with  his 
quaint  style,  will  add  to  their  interest.  He  died  at 
Chillicothe,  Ohio,  only  a  few  years  ago.  It  appears 
that  General  Robert  E.  Lee  had  had  some  correspond- 
ence with  him  about  the  history  of  General  Jackson. 
He  wrote : 

"  The  Clarksburg  Male  Academy  was  conducted 
solely  by  George  Tor  vis,  an  old  Englishman,  a  thor- 
ough scholar  with  long  experience  as  a  teacher. 
Among  the  pupils  we  found  two  noble  and  highly 
promising  young  men — Edward,  son  of  George  Jack- 


FATHER    OP^    STONEWALL   JACKSON. 

(From  a  paiiited  miniature.) 


EDWARD   AXD   JONATHAN    JACKSON.  9 

son,  and  Jonathan,  son  of  Edward  Jackson,  senior. 
These  fathers  were  brothers,  and  among  the  pioneers 
of  the  country  some  time  before  the  Indians  had  re- 
tired, so  as  to  give  assurance  of  peace  and  freedom 
from  danger,  and  soon  became  wealthy  and  indepen- 
dent farmers  of  high  standing  and  respectability. 
While  at  school  with  these  young  men,  a  mutual  at- 
tachment was  created,  which  was  warmly  cherished, 
and  became  stronger  and  more  endearing  while  they 
lived,  and  sincerely  lamented  when  they  both  died  in 
the  prime  of  life.  Edward  Jackson,  after  leaving 
school,  studied  medicine,  and  Jonathan  Jackson  read 
law.  Both  attained  to  some  degree  of  eminence  in 
their  respective  professions,  with  the  esteem,  confi- 
dence, and  good  wishes  of  all  who  knew  them." 

It  is  said  that  these  young  cousins,  who  were  as 
brothers  at  school,  in  manhood  became  rival  suitors 
for  the  hand  of  Julia  JS'eale,  Jonathan  carrying  off 
the  prize. 

*'  In  paying  the  soldiers  of  the  county  of  Harrison 
in  the  war  of  1812,  one  or  two  of  them,  in  consequence 
of  sickness,  did  not  receive  their  pay  ;  but  soon  after- 
Avards  their  friend,  Jonathan  Jackson,  presented  their 
claims  and  got  from  us  the  money  for  them.  This 
was  about  the  fall  of  1813,  at  which  time  he  was  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  the  practice  of  law.  He  was  also 
excise  master,  or  United  States  revenue  officer  of  the 
county." 

Dr.  Creel  continues  his  account  of  the  jN'eale 
family  : 


10       LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

"  In  the  early  part  of  the  nineteenth  century,  George 
Lewis  and  two  brothers,  George  and  Thomas  Xeale, 
removed  from  the  county  of  Loudon  to  Wood  Coun- 
ty, in  AVestern  Virginia.  George  Lewis  purchased  a 
large  tract  of  land  lying  on  the  Ohio  River,  six  miles 
from  Parkersburg,  which  had  been  located  by  Gen- 
eral Washington,  and  left  by  his  will  to  one  of  his 
leiratees.  Georo:e  Neale,  who  had  married  one  of  his 
daughters,  purchased  several  hundred  acres  of  land 
from  his  father-in-law,  and  in  a  few  ye-a-vs  became  a 
wealthy  and  independent  farmer,  respected  and  be- 
loved for  his  noble  attributes  of  character.  Thomas 
Xeale  (the  maternal  grandfather  of  General  Jackson) 
married  Margaret  Winn,  the  daughter  of  Minor  Winn, 
who  resided  on  the  west  side  of  Bull  Run  Mountain, 
only  a  few  miles  from  where  the  first  battle  was 
fought  in  the  late  war.  He  located  in  Parkersburg 
and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business,  and  had  a 
family  of  five  children— two  daughters,  Harriet  and 
Julia,  and  three  sons,  Alfred,  Minor,  and  William. 
After  our  return  home  from  the  Academy  at  Clarks- 
burg, we  commenced  teaching  school  in  the  village  of 
Parkersburg,  and  among  the  pupils  were  three  of 
Thomas  Xeale's  children— Harriet,  Julia,  and  his  old- 
est son,  Alfred.  Of  Julia  we  desire  to  speak  particu- 
larl^^  not  only  because  she  was  our  great  favorite,  but 
especially  because  of  her  connection  with  the  history 
of  Jonathan  Jackson,  who  became  her  husband,  and 
the  father  of  Thomas  Jonathan  Jackson. 

'•  When  Julia  Xeale  became  our  pupil,  she  was  about 
thirteen  years  old,  endowed  with  a  good  natural  mind, 
soon  acquired  the  habit  of  close  application,  and  gave 
us  no  trouble  in  her  recitations.     She  was  rather  a  bru- 


JONATHAN   JACKSON.  H 

nette,  with  dark -brown  hair,  dark -gray  eyes,  hand- 
some face,  and,  when  at  maturity,  of  medium  height 
and  symmetrical  form.  And  now,  at  the  close  of  our 
ninety-first  year,  we  still  in  memory  behold  her  as 
standing  before  us  reciting  her  lessons  with  a  pleas- 
ant smile  ;  and  also  in  the  maturity  of  womanhood, 
when  her  affianced  lord  came  to  pay  her  that  hom- 
age which  soon  terminated  in  a  matrimonial  alliance. 
.  .  .  General  Lee,  in  his  kind  letter  to  us,  was  pleased  to 
express  the  belief  that  this  extraordinary  man, '  Stone- 
wall '  Jackson,  was  indebted  to  us,  more  or  less,  as  the 
instructor  of  his  mother." 

Jonathan  Jackson  began  housekeeping  with  his 
young  wife  in  a  neat  brick  cottage  of  three  rooms, 
which  he  built  for  a  law  office,  intending  in  the  future 
to  erect  a  more  commodious  dwelling  for  his  family 
on  the  front  of  the  large,  grassy  lot.  But  his  pecun- 
iary misfortunes  and  untimely  death  prevented  the 
reahzation  of  this  hope.  His  four  children  were  all 
born  in  the  cottage,  and  it  was  preserved  as  the  birth- 
place of  General  Jackson  until  a  few  years  since, 
when  the  lot  became  so  valuable  with  the  growth  of 
the  town  that  the  owner  tore  down  the  Httle  cottage, 
and  built  a  business  house  upon  the  ground. 

Jonathan  was  a  successful  lawyer,  especially  as  a 
pleader  in  the  chancery  courts,  and  with  the  comfort- 
able patrimony  which  he  had  inherited  from  his 
father  he  had  a  promising  future ;  but,  being  of  a 
free,  generous,  and  incautious  nature,  he  became  deep- 
ly involved  by  giving  security  for  others,  and  when 
he  was  cut  down  in  the  meridian  of  life  every  vestige 
of  his  property  was  swept  away.     He  was  an  affec- 


12      LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

tionate  and  devoted  husband  and  father,  and  lost  his 
life  by  a  malignant  fever  which  he  contracted  in  nurs- 
ing his  eldest  child,  Elizabeth,  who  died  of  the  same 
disease  two  weeks  before  her  father.  The  three 
children  that  survived  him  were  Warren,  Thomas 
Jonathan,  and  Laura.  His  son  Thomas,  after  reach- 
ing the  age  of  manhood,  erected  monuments  over  the 
graves  of  his  father  and  little  sister  in  the  cemetery 
at  Clarksburg. 

Clarksburg  is  a  pretty  and  thriving  town,  situated 
in  a  picturesque  country,  and  some  of  the  Jackson 
family  still  live  there  and  keep  up  the  name  with 
credit  and  honor.  At  Parkersburg  also  are  found 
many  of  General  Jackson's  kindred  on  both  sides  of 
the  house,  who  are  noted  for  their  enterprise,  cultiva- 
tion, and  warm-hearted  hospitality. 

Several  members  of  Edward  Jackson's  large  family, 
in  physical  stature,  showed  what  they  inherited  from 
their  grandmother,  Elizabeth  Cummins. 

One  of  her  descendants,  who  bore  the  singtilar  name 
of  Eeturn  Meigs,  was  six  feet  and  seven  inches  in 
height,  and  was  proportionately  strong  and  powerful. 
There  is  a  little  romance  in  the  family  about  the  way 
he  got  his  name.  When  his  father  was  engaged  to 
be  married,  an  unfortunate  misunderstanding  led  to 
a  temporary  separation,  which  weighed  so  hard  on  the 
disconsolate  lover  that  when  the  object  of  his  devo- 
tion relented  and  said,  "  Return,  Meigs,"  he  declared 
those  were  the  sweetest  words  that  ever  fell  upon  his 
ears,  and  he  therefore  commemorated  his  crowning- 
happiness  by  giving  his  first  son  this  unique  name. 

Cummins  Jackson  was  also  of  lofty  stature,  and  was 
noted  for  his  herculean  strength,  which  it  is  said  he 


STRENGTH   IX   OLD   AGE.  13 

proved  by  lifting  a  barrel  of  cider  and  taking  a  drink 
from  the  bung-hole  ;  and,  more  marvellous  still,  that 
he  could  take  up  a  barrel  of  flour  under  each  one  of 
his  arms  and  carry  them  out  of  his  mill ! 

One  of  his  sisters,  Mrs.  AYhite,  known  in  the  fam- 
ily as  "Aunt  Katie,"  was  as  remarkable  as  were  the 
brothers,  for  her  size,  physical  strength,  and  wonder- 
ful industry.  In  her  old  age,  when  she  thought  her 
natural  force  was  much  abated,  she  was  known  to 
spin  upon  her  spinning-wheel  twenty-eight  "cuts"  of 
flax  a  day,  in  addition  to  milking  her  cows  !  Twelve 
cuts  a  day  was  the  usual  task  for  servants. 


CHAPTER  11. 

"THE   BOY  IS   FATHER   OF  THE   MAX." 

Thomas  Jonathan  Jackson,  the  subject  of  this  me- 
moir, was  born  in  the  town  of  Clarksburg,  Virginia, 
on  the  21st  of  January,  1S24:;  at  least,  that  was»the 
supposed  date  of  his  birth,  for  in  consequence  of  the 
early  breaking-up  of  his  father's  family  no  record  of 
the  event  was  ever  found,  and  he  did  not  remember 
dates  with  accurac}^  Clarksburg  is  now  in  the  State 
of  TTest  Virginia ;  but  as  he  did  not  live  to  see  the 
Old  Dominion  so  cruelly  sundered  in  twain,  he  died 
as  he  was  born,  a  Virginian. 

He  was  only  in  his  third  year  when  his  father  died 
(of  whom  he  was  too  young  to  have  an}^  remem- 
brance), and  his  mother  was  left  a  widow  with  three 
helpless  children,  without  a  home  or  means  of  sup- 
port. But  her  own  and  her  husband's  relations  assist- 
ed her ;  and  as  he  had  been  an  officer  in  the  order  of 
Freemasons  (who  had  presented  him  with  a  gold  medal 
in  token  of  their  respect),  they  now  gave  her  a  small 
house  of  only  one  room ;  and  in  this  huilible  abode, 
with  her  fatherless  children,  she  spent  the  greater  part 
of  the  few  years  of  her  widowhood.  Here  she  taught 
a  little  school,  and  also  added  to  her  support  l)y  sew- 
ing. The  weight  of  the  cares  and  struggles  must  have 
been  very  trying  to  her  delicate  frame ;  but  she  found 
relief  in  spending  a  good  deal  of  her  time  with  her 


BIRTHPLACE. 


15 


father  in  Wood  County ;  and  in  the  heat  of  summer 
she  went  to  a  place  called  ^'The  Ridge,"  where  her 
brother,  Minor  W.  Neale,  always  accompanied  and 
remained  with  her.  A  friend  wrote :  "  I  met  her  in 
the  summer  of  1827,  in  Wood  County.    She  was  look- 


TrtW 


BIRTHPLACE  OF  GENERAL 

JACKSON,   CLARKSBURG, 

WEST  VIRGINIA 


ing  as   cheerful  and  ani- 
mated as  usual,  her  easy, 
graceful  manners  and  pleasant  cun- 
versation  always  making  her  a  wel- 
come guest." 

In  the  year  1830  Mrs.  Jackson  was  married  a  sec- 
ond time,  against  the  wishes  of  her  friends,  to  Captain 
Blake  B.  Woodson,  of  Cumberland  County,  a  lawyer 
of  good  education,  and  of  social,  popular  manners ;  but 
he  was  much  her  senior,  and  a  widower  without  fort- 
une.     The  relatives  of  her  first  husband  oflPered  to 


16       LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

help  her  if  she  would  remain  a  widow,  while  warning 
her  that  if  she  married  again  they  should  have  to  take 
her  children  from  her  to  support  them.  But  all  Avas 
of  no  avail,  and  the  result  was  what  they  had  pre- 
dicted. Though  Captain  Woodson  was  always  kind 
to  the  children,  his  slender  means  were  inadequate  to 
the  support  of  a  family,  and  necessity  soon  compelled 
the  poor  mother  to  give  up  her  two  boys  to  the  care 
of  their  father's  relations.  The  youngest  child,  Laura, 
she  kept  wath  her,  and  after  the  marriage  Captain 
"Woodson  removed  to  Fayette  County,  where  he  had 
received  the  appointment  of  clerk  of  the  county. 

So  Thomas,  at  the  age  of  six  years,  had  to  take 
leave  of  his  mother,  to  be  sent  to  the  house  of  his 
uncle.  It  was  a  heart-breaking  separation.  He  was 
at  this  time  a  rosy-cheeked,  blue-eyed  boy,  with  wav- 
ing brown  hair,  to  whom  she  clung  with  all  a  moth- 
er s  devotion.  She  had  him  mounted  on  horseback, 
behind  one  of  his  father's  former  slaves,  good  "  Uncle 
Kobinson,"  of  whom  he  was  very  fond,  and  after  pro- 
viding him  with  every  comfort,  and  bidding  him  good- 
by,  her  yearning  heart  called  him  back  once  more, 
and,  clasping  him  to  her  bosom,  she  gave  vent  to  her 
feelings  in  a  flood  of  tears.  That  parting  he  never 
forgot ;  nor  could  he  speak  of  it  in  after-years  but 
with  the  utmost  tenderness.  Warren  had  been  sent 
some  time  before  to  the  home  of  his  aunt,  Mrs.  Isaac 
Brake,  who  wished  to  relieve  the  mother  of  his  sup- 
port, and  she  had  consented  on  account  of  the  greater 
temptations  to  the  boy  in  town.  Their  mother  lived 
only  a  little  over  a  year  after  lier  second  marriage, 
her  delicate  health  completely  giving  way  after  the 
birth  of  a  son,  wlio  was  named  Wirt.    As  she  lingered 


HIS   MOTHER'S   rxRAYE.  17 

several  weeks,  she  sent  for  her  two  fatherless  boys,  to 
receive  her  farewell  and  blessing;  and  her  prayers, 
counsels,  and  triumphant  death  made  an  indelible  im- 
pression upon  the  mind  of  Thomas,  who  was  then 
seven  ^^ears  of  age.  In  a  letter  announcing  her  death, 
Captain  Woodson  says :  "  No  Christian  on  earth,  no 
matter  what  evidence  he  might  have  had  of  a  happy 
hereafter,  could  have  died  with  more  fortitude.  Per- 
fectly in  her  senses,  calm  and  deliberate,  she  met  her 
fate  without  a  murmur  or  a  struggle.  Death  for  her 
had  no  sting;  the  grave  could  claim  no  victory.  I 
have  known  few  women  of  equal,  none  of  superior, 
merit."  Her  remains  were  buried  near  the  famous 
"  Hawk's  JN'est "  of  New  Kiver,  w^hich  her  son  visited 
in  after-years,  to  find  her  grave  and  erect  a  mon- 
ument over  it ;  but  nearly  all  who  had  known  her 
during  her  brief  residence  there  had  passed  away, 
and  no  one  could  be  found  who  could  point  out  the 
spot  with  certainty.  After  his  return  to  his  home 
in  Lexington,  he  wrote  to  his  aunt,  Mrs.  Neale,  at 
Parkersburg : 

"  Sept.  4th,  1855. 
"  Though  I  have  reached  home,  yet  the  pleasures 
enjoyed  under  jonr  hospitable  roof,  and  in  your  fam- 
ily circle,  have  not  been  dissipated.  ...  I  stopped  to 
see  the  Hawk's  Nest,  and  the  gentleman  with  whom  I 
put  up  was  at  my  mother's  burial,  and  accompanied 
me  to  the  cemetery  for  the  purpose  of  pointing  out 
her  grave  to  me ;  but  I  am  not  certain  that  he  found 
it.  There  was  no  stone  to  mark  the  spot.  Another 
gentleman,  who  had  the  kindness  to  go  with  us,  stated 
that  a  wooden  head  or  foot  board  with  her  name  on 
2 


IS       LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

it  had  been  put  up,  but  it  was  no  longer  there.  A 
depression  in  the  earth  only  markKl  her  resting-place. 
When  standing  by  her  grave,  I  experienced  feelings 
to  which  I  was  until  then  a  stranger.  I  was  seeking 
the  spot  partly  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  something 
to  her  precious  memory.  On  Saturday  last  I  lost  my 
porte-monnaie,  and  in  it  was  the  date  of  my  mother's 
birth.     Please  give  me  the  date  in  your  next  letter."' 

It  was  left  to  the  generous  impulse  of  a  Confederate 
soldier  to  do,  after  General  Jackson's  death,  what  he 
was  so  anxious  to  do  himself,  in  preserving  his  mother  s 
grave  from  oblivion.    One  who  visited  the  spot  writes  : 

"  On  the  top  of  a  beautiful  wooded  hill,  near  the 
mining  village  of  Anstead,  Fayette  County,  West  Vir- 
ginia, is  an  old  graveyard,  still  used  as  a  burying- 
place  by  the  dwellers  in  this  mountain  region.  It  is 
greatly  neglected,  and  man}^  graves  are  scarcely  to  be 
found,  though  a  few  are  protected  by  little  pens  of 
fence-rails.  The  location  is  so  beautiful,  and  the  view^ 
it  commands  so  extensive  and  exquisite,  that  it  is 
w^orthy  of  being  well  cared  for.  Among  those  who 
lie  buried  here  is  the  mother  of  that  noble  Christian 
soldier,  General  Stonewall  Jackson.  This  grave,  or 
spot— for  the  grave  is  scarcely  to  be  recognized — has 
been  kindly  cared  for  by  Mr.  Stevens  M.  Taylor,  for- 
merly of  Albemarle  County.  But  no  stone  was  erected 
until  a  gentleman  of  Staunton,  Captain  Thomas  D. 
Kansom,  one  of  his  old  soldiers,  seeing  the  neglected 
condition  of  the  grave,  had  prepared  a  simple  but 
suitable  monument — a  tall  slab  of  marble  with  an 
inscription,  giving  the  dates  of  her  birth  and  death, 


SEPARATED    FROM   BROTHER  AND   SISTER.  19 

and  adding  that  it  is  'a  tribute   to  the   mother  of 
Stonewall  Jackson,  by  one  of  his  old  brigade.' " 

Such  a  mother  could  not  but  leave  a  deep  impres- 
sion upon  the  heart  of  such  a  son.  To  the  latest  hour 
of  his  life  he  cherished  her  memory.  His  recollections 
of  her  were  of  the  sweetest  and  tenderest  character. 
To  his  childhood's  fancy  she  was  the  embodiment  of 
beauty,  grace,  and  loveliness  ;  and  when,  a  few  months 
before  his  death,  while  he  was  in  the  midst  of  the 
army,  a  little  daughter  was  born  to  him,  he  wrote  that 
he  wished  her  to  be  called  "  Julia,"  saying,  "  My  moth- 
er was  mindful  of  me  when  I  was  a  helpless,  father- 
less child,  and  I  wish  to  commemorate  her  now." 

After  the  death  of  their  mother,  the  children  were 
sent  back  to  their  Jackson  relatives— AYarren  return- 
ing to  Mrs.  Brake,  and  Thomas  and  Laura  finding  a 
home  for  a  time  with  their  aunt,  Mrs.  White,  and  later 
with  their  step-grandmother  Jackson,  who  was  always 
kind  to  them.  Laura,  who  is  still  living,  does  not  re- 
member that  Thomas  ever  lived  with  either  of  their 
uncles-in-law  Brake,  and  says  that  it  was  their  broth- 
er Warren,  and  not  Thomas,  who  ran  away  when  a 
little  boy  from  his  "  uncle  Brake,  because  they  couldn't 
asrree" — a  statement  which  accords  with  the  charac- 
ter  of  the  bo}^  Thomas  and  Laura  lived  with  their 
step-grandmother  until  her  death  ;  and  after  the  mar- 
riage of  her  two  daughters,  w^hich  left  no  ladies  in  the 
household,  Laura  was  sent  to  find  a  home  among  her 
I^^eale  relatives,  and  lived  with  them  until  she  was 
married  to  Mr.  Jonathan  Arnold,  of  Beverly,  West 
Yirs-inia.  Her  two  sons,  Thomas  Jackson  and  Stark 
W.  Arnold,  were  the  only  nephews  of  General  Jackson. 


20       LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

The  grandmother  lived  at  the  old  Jackson  home- 
stead, in  Lewis  County,  and  at  her  death  her  son 
Cummins  became  the  head  of  the  house;  and  being  a 
large-hearted,  generous  man,  he  not  only  kept  Thom- 
as with  him  to  rear  and  educate,  but  he  also  gave  AVar- 
ren  a  home  after  he  ran  away  from  his  uncle  Brake. 
The  story  runs  that  this  boy,  Warren,  when  only  nine 
or  ten  years  old,  left  the  house  of  Mr.  Brake,  Avho  had 
offended  him  by  sternness,  and  walked  four  or  five 
miles  into  the  town  of  Clarksburg  to  the  house  of 
Judo^e  Jackson,  his  fathers  cousin,  and  asked  Mrs. 
Jackson  to  give  him  his  dinner.  While  eating  at  the 
table  he  very  quietly  said :  "  Uncle  Brake  and  I  don't 
agree ;  I  have  quit  him,  and  shall  not  go  back  any 
more."  Mrs.  Jackson  was  surprised  and,  disapprov- 
ing of  such  independence  in  so  young  a  lad,  tried  to 
persuade  him  to  return,  but  his  unvarying  answer  was : 
''  Xo,  he  and  I  don't  agree ;  I  have  quit  him,  and  shall 
not  go  back  any  more."  He  then  went  to  the  house 
of  another  cousin,  asked  if  he  could  spend  the  night, 
and  told  her  the  same  story.  The  next  day  he  walked 
eighteen  miles  all  alone,  to  the  home  of  his  uncle  Cum- 
mins, who  received  him  with  great  kindness,  and  the 
two  orphan  boys  were  very  happy  at  being  together 
under  the  same  roof.  Here  the  three  children  went 
to  school,  when  there  were  any  schools  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, and  Thomas  and  Laura  spent  much  time 
in  play,  he  always  having  a  care  over  his  little  sister. 
He  was  a  cheerful  bo3^  and,  his  sister  says,  sang  a  great 
deal ;  but  in  after-years  he  did  not  show  any  musical 
talent,  though  very  fond  of  hearing  music. 

The  boyhood  of  Jackson  showed  that,  truly. 
"  The  child  is  father  of  the  man/' 


BROTHER  AND   SISTER   TOGETHER.  21 

for  it  was  marked  by  the  same  energy,  determination, 
and  perseverance  that  were  to  distinguish  him  in  his 
future  career.  No  matter  what  he  undertook,  whether 
of  work  or  play,  he  "  never  gave  up."  At  school,  one 
day,  during  recess,  he  became  absorbed  in  making  a 
cornstalk  jfiddle,  and  when  the  bell  rang  for  resuming 
study  he  worked  away  as  if  he  did  not  hear  it,  totally 
oblivious  of  his  duty  to  return  to  his  lessons.  Laura  was 
sent  to  call  him,  but  his  reply  was,  "  Wait  till  I  finish 
this  fiddle !"  and  not  until  the  teacher  went  out  and 
compelled  obedience  did  he  relinquish  his  task. 

The  children  wandered  all  over  the  farm,  and  en- 
gaged in  many  youthful  enterprises,  one  of  which  was 
the  making  of  maple  sugar.  The  trees  stood  on  the 
other  side  of  a  creek  which  had  no  bridge  over  it,  but. 
nothing  daunted,  our  young  hero  went  to  work  and 
framed  a  little  raft,  upon  which  he  and  Laura  would 
cross  daily,  and  busy  themselves  in  drawing  the  sap 
and  boiling  down  the  sugar.  In  after -years,  when 
he  became  the  leader  of  armies,  he  often  had  occa- 
sion to  build  bridges  across  streams  for  his  troops,  in 
which  he  showed  the  same  indomitable  perseverance 
in  overcoming  obstacles  that  he  had  shown  when  a 
boy. 

Laura  followed  him  everywhere,  even  in  his  rabbit 
hunts,  in  which  he  was  quite  an  expert.  After  run- 
ning a  rabbit  into  a  hollow  log,  he  would  place  Laura 
at  one  end  and  himself  at  the  other,  and  in  this  way 
they  often  caught  the  little  creatures  w^ith  their  hands. 
He  busied  himself  in  making  rabbit-snares,  bird-traps, 
and  in  other  rustic  diversions.  In  his  childhood  he 
was  extravagantly  fond  of  the  violin,  and  after  com- 
ing into  possession  of  one  of  his  own  he  made  faithful 


22      LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

efforts  to  learn  to  play  upon  it,  but,  not  being  endowed 
with  the  gift  of  music,  this  was  one  of  the  few  things 
he  attempted  in  which  he  did  not  succeed.  AVhen  a 
boy,  he  did  learn  a  few  songs,  among  them  a  military 
one,  called  ''  Xapoleon's  Ketreat.'' 

This  united,  happy  life  of  the  little  brother  and  sis- 
ter did  not  continue  more  than  a  year  or  two,  when 
they  were  separated,  never  to  have  the  same  home 
airain.  Bat  he  cherished  a  warm  attachment  for  her, 
and  kept  up  the  most  affectionate  relations  with  her 
as  lono'  as  he  lived.  With  monev  he  saved  from  his 
pay  at  West  Point  he  bought  her  a  silk  dress  as  a  pres- 
ent upon  his  return  home  during  his  first  vacation. 

Cummins  Jackson  was  a  bachelor  of  middle  age, 
and  being  a  man  of  independent  fortune  and  a  kind 
heart,  he  was  disposed  to  do  all  in  his  power  for  War- 
ren and  Thomas.  The  latter,  it  is  said,  was  his  favor 
ite,  and  lie  could  not  have  been  treated  with  more  kind- 
ness if  he  had  been  his  own  son.  He  gave  the  lads 
all  the  advantages  of  education  his  county  afforded, 
though  these  were  not  great  in  that  new  and  unim- 
proved region.  It  was  the  custom  to  have  schools  for 
only  about  three  months  during  the  winter  season,  so 
the  boys  were  engaged  during  the  remainder  of  the 
year  in  assisting  their  uncle  in  the  operations  of  the 
farm  and  mills. 

At  school  Thomas  was  studious  and  persevering, 
showing  a  great  desire  to  make  the  best  of  his  advan- 
tages ;  but  Warren  was  the  reverse,  and  as  he  grew 
up  his  strong  will,  which  liad  never  been  controlled, 
and  his  independent  and  restless  spirit  impelled  iiim 
to  launch  out  for  himself  and  seek  his  own  fortune. 
His  uncle  thought  it  best  not  to  thwart  him  in  this. 


IN   SEARCH    OF   ADVENTURE.  23 

and  so  the  boy  left  this  kind  uncle  and  good  home 
when  he  was  about  fourteen  years  of  age.  But  the 
saddest  part  of  this  exodus  was,  that  he  persuaded  his 
young  brother,  of  only  twelve,  to  accompany  him. 
Thomas  was  very  reluctant  to  go,  for  he  loved  his  un- 
cle, and  was  happy  in  his  free  and,  bountiful  home ; 
but  his  affection  for  Warren,  and  perhaps  the  latter's 
authority  over  him  as  an  elder  brother,  were  too  great 
to  be  resisted.  Thev  went  first  to  the  home  of  their 
uncle  Alfred  Neale,  who  lived  on  James  Island,  in  the 
Ohio,  and  were  most  kindly  received  by  him  and  his 
good  wife ;  but  as  this  uncle  prescribed  for  tliem  the 
same  excellent  discipline  as  their  uncle  Cummins — 
that  they  should  work  on  the  farm  and  go  to  school — 
AVarren  again  rebelled,  and  spread  his  unfledged  wings 
for  a  flight  farther  down  the  Ohio,  taking  Thomas 
with  him. 

Several  months  passed,  and  their  friends  heard  noth- 
ing of  the  young  wanderers ;  but  in  the  autumn  they 
came  back,  like  repentant  prodigals,  glad  enough  to 
return  to  kindred  and  friends,  but  in  such  a  sad  phght 
that  it  was  touching  to  see  them.  Their  clothes  were 
worn  and  soiled  from  travel,  and  their  faces  bore  the 
marks  of  sickness  and  suffering.  Their  story  was  that, 
after  floating  down  the  Ohio,  and  earning  their  living 
as  best  they  could,  they  landed  on  a  small  island  in 
the  Mississippi,  near  the  southwestern  corner  of  Ken- 
tucky. Here  they  spent  the  summer  alone,  and  sup- 
ported themselves  by  cutting  wood  for  the  passing 
steamboats. 

Their  lodging-place  was  a  miserable  cabin,  and  the 
island  being  exceedingly  malarious,  they  contracted 
chills  and  fever,  which  made  such  ravages  upon  their 


24       LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

teDcler  frames  that  they  could  stand  it  no  longer ;  so 
by  the  kindness  of  a  captain,  who  gave  them  passage 
on  his  boat,  they  were  enabled  to  reach  home  —  no 
doubt  wiser,  if  not  better,  for  their  escapade. 

Thomas  determined  at  once  to  return  to  his  uncle 
Cummins,  where  the  comforts  of  home  and  the  fine  air 
of  his  native  climate  soon  restored  him  to  his  wonted 
health  and  strength,  and  here  he  remained  until  he  re- 
ceived an  appointment  as  a  cadet  at  AVest  Point, 

But  Warren  was  too  proud  or  ashamed  to  seek 
asrain  the  shelter  of  a  roof  Avhicli  he  had  so  rashly 
left,  so  he  went  to  the  house  of  his  aunt,  Mrs.  Isaac 
Brake,  which  had  been  his  home  after  his  separation 
from  his  mother,  where  he  received  the  kindest  treat- 
ment ;  but  he  never  recovered  from  the  effects  of  the 
exposure  and  hardships  encountered  during  that  disas- 
trous trip,  and  after  hngering  a  few  years  he  died  of 
consumption  at  the  age  of  nineteen.  Before  his  death 
he  sent  for  Thomas  and  Laura  to  come  and  see  him 
once  more,  and,  mounted  on  horseback,  they  rode 
across  the  country  to  pay  this  last  visit  to  their  dying 
brother.  They  found  that  this  long  illness,  with  the 
influence  of  his  sainted  mother,  had  changed  the  un- 
governed  boy  to  such  gentleness  and  submission  that 
he  no  longer  wished  to  live,  but  was  able  to  depart  in 
perfect  peace. 

After  the  wholesome  experience  of  his  adventurous 
trip  down  the  Ohio,  and  the  recovery  of  his  health, 
Thomas  showed  a  greater  desire  than  ever  for  self- 
improvement,  and  he  became  a  valuable  assistant  to 
his  uncle  in  the  management  of  his  farm  and  mills. 
Classical  academies  had  not  then  been  introduced  into 
that  part  of  the  country,  but  there  were  good  English 


OVERSEER   OF   WORKMEN   OX  THE   FARM.  25 

schools  ;  and  he  was  a  diligent,  plodding  scholar,  hav- 
ing a  strong  mind,  though  it  was  slow  in  development. 
In  arithmetic  he  was  quick,  and  found  no  difficulty  in 
excelling  his  classmates;  but  in  his  other  studies  he 
had  to  work  hard,  yet  he  ahvays  "  stuck  to  it ''  with  a 
tenacity  that  would  not  ''let  go."  He  never  left  a 
lesson  unmastered,  and  if  he  had  not  been  able  to 
finish  a  task  with  his  class,  he  would,  when  his  time 
came  to  recite,  acknowledge  frankly  that  he  knew^ 
nothing  of  that  lesson,  not  having  yet  perfected  the 
previous  one.  In  this  way  he  sometimes  fell  behind 
his  class  ;  but  as  he  had  a  retentive  memory,  the  knowl- 
edge that  he  gained  w^ith  so  much  labor  was  indelibly 
impressed  upon  his  mind. 

His  temper  as  a  boy  was  cheerful  and  generous,  and 
his  truthfulness  was  proverbial.  There  was  an  in- 
stinctive courtesy  in  his  conduct;  his  sense  of  justice 
was  very  strong,  and  as  long  as  he  met  with  fair  treat- 
ment from  his  associates,  he  w^as  gentle  and  peace- 
able; but  he  was  quick  to  resent  an  insult,  and  in 
a  boyish  combat  would  never  yield  to  defeat.  He 
was  a  ringleader  in  boyish  sports,  an  expert  in 
climbing  and  jumping ;  and  whenever  he  was  captain 
in  any  game  his  side  was  pretty  sure  to  come  off 
victorious. 

In  the  management  of  his  uncle's  farm  and  mills, 
Thomas  early  learned  to  put  his  young  shoulders  to 
the  wheel,  and  he  soon  proved  so  capable  that  he  was 
intrusted  with  the  duties  of  overseer  of  the  laborers  in 
getting  the  largest  trees  out  of  the  forest,  and  convey- 
ing them  to  the  mill  to  be  sawed  into  lumber,  in  all 
which  he  showed  great  intelligence  as  well  as  endur- 
ance and  efficiency. 


26  LIKE   OK   GENERAL   THOMA^i  j.  JACKSON. 

This  free  aii<l  active  life  was  well  adapted  to  both 
his  physical  and  moral  development,  and  as  his  uncle 
treated  liim  as  a  companion,  trusting  and  relying  upon 
him.  lie  grew  very  manly  and  independent  for  a  youth 
in  his  te(Mis.  His  bachelor  uncles,  it  appears,  were 
fond  of  sport,  of  fox  hunts  and  horse  racing.  His 
uncle  kept  a  number  of  blooded  horses,  and  had  a  four- 
mile  race-track  on  his  farm,  and  "Thomas,''  as  he 
always  called  him,  was  his  trainer,  and  so  well  taught 
was  he  to  ride  that  he  was  never  thrown.  Naturally 
he  came  to  share  in  the  pleasures  of  the  chase,  and  to 
ride  his  uncle's  racers  as  soon  as  he  was  old  enough. 
AVitli  his  determination  to  succeed  in  everything  he 
undertook,  he  did  not  fail  in. this  accomplishment,  for 
his  neighbors  said, ''  If  a  horse  had  any  winning  quali- 
ties whatever  in  him,  Tom  Jackson  never  failed  to 
bring  them  out  on  the  turf!"  But  though  he  won 
races  for  his  uncle,  and  won  a  good  deal  of  money,  he 
never  had  the  least  propensity  to  the  vices  that  belong 
to  s])orting  characters. 

AVhen  riding  home  late  one  night,  he  was  startled 
at  beholding  a  tall  white  spectre  flitting  across  the  road. 
The  lu^rse  became  frightened  and  plunged  backward ; 
and  Thomas  confessed  that  at  first  he,  too,  was  some- 
what dismayed  at  such  a  ghostly  apparition,  but,  deter- 
mining to  conquer  all  fear,  he  put  whip  and  spurs  to 
liis  lioi*se  and  forced  him  to  gallop  past  the  object  of 
tvri'or,  which  he  soon  discovered,  from  the  shouts  of 
lau":hter  from  the  roadside,  was  one  of  his  uncles,  who 
Iiad  tried  to  ])lay  a  joke  upon  him  by  wrapping  him- 
self in  a  sheet  and  taking  his  stand  at  the  foot  of  a 
hill  he  was  to  pass. 

^J'his  free  life  he  could  enjoy  without  l)(Mng  at  all 


WILL,  CX)URAGE,  AND  TENACITY.  27 

spoiled  by  it ;  and  tliougli  he  spoke  of  himself  as  hav- 
ing been  "  a  Avild  boy,"  he  was  always  noted  for  his 
uprightness,  honesty,  industry,  and  truth.  In  his  after- 
years  he  was  not  disposed  to  talk  much  of  his  child- 
hood and  youth,  for  the  reason  that  it  was  the  saddest 
period  of  his  life.  He  had  been  very  early  left  an  or- 
phan. Losing  first  his  father  and  then  his  mother,  he 
had  no  home  life,  but  grew  up  among  remoter  kin- 
dred. All  this  made  the  memory  so  sad  that  he  sel- 
dom referred  to  it. 

One  who  knew  him  at  this  time  says :  "  He  was  a 
youth  of  exem^Dlary  habits,  of  indomitable  will  and 
undoubted  courage.  He  possessed  in  an  eminent  de- 
gree a  talent  for  mathematics,  and  was  unwilling,  while 
at  school,  to  acknowledge  his  incapacity — 'give  him 
time' — to  solve  an}"  proposition.  He  was  not  what 
is  nowadays  termed  brilliant,  but  he  was  one  of  those 
untiring,  matter-of-fact  persons  Avho  would  never  give 
up  when  he  engaged  in  an  undertaking  until  he  ac- 
complished his  object.  He  learned  slowly,  but  when 
he  got  learning  into  his  head,  he  never  forgot  it.  He 
was  not  quick  to  decide,  except  when  excited,  and 
then  when  he  made  up  his  mind  to  do  a  thing,  he  did 
it  on  short  notice  and  in  quick  time.  Thus,  while  on 
his  way  to  school,  an  overgrown  rustic  behaved  rudely 
to  one  of  the  school-girls.  Jackson  was  fired  at  his 
cowardly  conduct,  and  told  him  he  must  apologize  at 
once,  or  he  would  '  thrash  him.'  The  big  fellow,  sup- 
posing that  he  was  an  overmatch  for  him,  refused, 
whereupon  Jackson  pitched  into  him,  and  gave  him  a 
severe  pounding." 

This  manly  and  independent  spirit  impelled  him  at 
an  early  age  to  seek  a  support  for  himself,  and  his 


28      LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

friends  procured  for  him  the  position  of  constable  of 
Lewis  County,  lie  was  but  eighteen  years  old,  and  it 
was  contrary  to  law  that  a  minor  should  hold  this 
olfice,  but  the  influence  and  guarantee  of  his  uncle, 
with  his  own  good  character,  overcame  this  objection. 
At  this  time  his  health  was  somewhat  impaired,  and 
it  was  hoped  that  the  out-door  life  and  horseback  ex- 
ercise would  invigorate  him.  The  duties  of  the  office 
required  both  courage  and  determination,  qualities 
that  he  soon  showed  that  he  possessed.  Pronq^t  in 
meeting  his  own  engagements,  he  enforced  the  same 
upon  otliei's.  Collecting  debts  is  always  a  thankless 
task, but  it  had  to  be  done;  and  Jackson  did  it  kindly, 
but  iirndy.  In  one  case  a  man  had  made  repeated 
promises  to  pay,  but  would  never  keep  an  appoint- 
ment for  the  purpose.  After  exacting  one  more 
promise  that  he  would  pay,  without  fail,  upon  a  cer- 
tain day,  the  young  constable  pledged  himself  to  the 
creditor  that  on  that  day  he  should  have  his  money. 
The  day  came,  and  the  constable  and  creditor  were  on 
hand,  but  the  debtor  was  again  missing,  and  w^as  not 
seen  in  the  village  all  day.  The  young  deputy,  how- 
ever, had  given  his  word,  and  'kept  it  by  paj^ing  the 
money  out  of  his  own  pocket.  The  next  morning  the 
delincjuent  appeared  upon  the  scene,  riding  a  fine 
horse,  but  as  tlie  custom  of  the  country  did  not  per- 
mit a  man's  horse  to  be  taken  from  him  while  he  was 
i)\\  his  back,  the  young  officer  waited  until  he  saw  the 
man  dismount,  and  then  reproaching  him  for  his 
breach  of  faith,  he  seized  the  horse.  The  man  re- 
sisted, and  a  furious  struggle  followed,  during  Avhich 
he  succeeded  in  remounting.  This  at  first  disc<jn- 
certed    Jackson,   Ijut,   not    to    be    outwitted   bv   this 


DEATH   OF   UNCLE   CUMMIXS.  29 

manoeuvre,  he  held  on  to  the  bridle,  and  seeing  near 
b}'  a  stable  door  standing  open,  he  led  the  horse  up 
to  it,  and  quietly  told  the  man  he  must  "  get  off  or 
be  knocked  off,"  the  door  being  too  low  for  him  to 
go  tlirough  on  horseback.  Thus  the  fugitive  was  fairly 
caught,  and  after  resisting  and  begging,  he  finally 
slipped  off  and  left  the  horse  in  the  possession  of  the 
young  representative  of  the  law. 

But  this  business  was  distasteful  to  Jackson,  and 
he  gladly  resigned  it  on  receiving  an  appointment  to 
the  Military  Academy  at  West  Point. 

Before  closing  this  chapter,  it  may  be  of  interest, 
although  it  will  be  anticipating  a  few  years,  to  know 
the  end  of  the  good  Uncle  Cummins,  who  was  a 
second  father  to  Thomas  in  his  boyhood.  After 
the  close  of  the^  Mexican  war  and  the  annexation  of 
California,  the  discovery  of  gold  created  great  excite- 
ment throughout  the  country,  and  caused  a  tide  of 
emigration  to  the  Far  West.  Catching  the  popular 
enthusiasm,  and  inflamed,  perhaps,  with  a  spirit  of 
adventure,  this  uncle,  though  in  his  fiftieth  year, 
left-  his  Virginia  home  and  travelled  by  wagon-train 
across  the  plains,  but  lived  only  a  few  months  after 
reaching  the  Pacific  coast.  His  nephew,  Thomas, 
inherited  a  few  hundred  dollars  from  his  estate,  which 
he  gave  to  his  aunt,  Mrs.  White,  who  was  then  in 
straitened  circumstances,  in  gratitude  for  having  given 
him  a  home  when  he  was  first  separated  from  his 
mother. 


CHAPTER   III. 

FOUR  YEARS    AT    WEST    POINT— 1S42-1 846. 

AVhii.e  the  vouno^  Viro^inian  was  ridino-  over  the 
hills  of  his  native  countv,  enforcing  the  law,  he  was 
dreaming  of  other  things.  A  desire  for  knowl- 
edge had  been  the  passion  of  his  youth.  AYith  the 
pride  of  descent  from  a  family  that  had  stood  high  in 
the  country  round,  he  felt  deeply  the  disadvantages 
which  his  early  orphanage  and  poverty  had  entailed 
upon  him,  and  was  ambitious  to  make  a  position  for 
himself,  and  keep  up  the  prestige  of  his  name.  He 
had  determined  to  earn  the  means  to  procure  a  liberal 
education,  when  the  opportunity  came  in  a  way  he 
had  not  anticipated.  A  young  man  from  the  Con- 
gressional district  in  which  he  lived  had  received 
an  appointment  to  the  Military  Academy  at  West 
Point,  but  after  entering  had  found  that  the  disci- 
pline and  the  hard  study  were  too  severe  to  suit  his 
self-indulgent  tastes,  and  resigned  in  disgust  and  re- 
turned home.  Of  course,  this  was  the  talk  of  the 
neighborhood  ;  and  one  day  that  Uncle  Cummins  was 
having  his  horse  shod,  the  blacksmith  looked  up  and 
said  :  '•  Xow  here  is  a  good  chance  for  Tom  Jackson, 
as  he  is  so  anxious  to  get  an  education."  His  uncle 
caught  at  the  suggestion,  and  going  home  told  his 
nephew  of  the  opportunity  to  get  a  cadetship  at  AVest 
Puint,  which  lired  his  heart  with  such  eager  hope  that 


APPOINTED   TO    WEST   POINT.  31 

he  began  at  once  his  efforts  to  secure  tJie  vacant  posi- 
tion. He  had  many  friends  who  had  observed  his  manly 
spirit,  and  were  ready  to  help  him ;  and  all  joined  in  a 
letter  to  the  Hon.  Samuel  Hays,  member  of  Congress 
from  the  district,  asking  him  to  use  his  influence  to  have 
him  appointed.  Of  a  prominent  law^yer  connected  with 
his  own  family,  the  3^oung  applicant  felt  at  liberty  to 
request  a  more  confidential  testimonial,  but  he  was 
asked  "  if  he  did  not  fear  that  his  education  was  not 
sufficient  to  enable  him  to  enter  and  sustain  himself  at 
West  Point."  For  a  moment  his  countenance  fell,  but, 
looking  up,  he  replied :  "  I  know  that  I  shall  have  the 
application  necessary  to  succeed ;  I  hope  that  I  have 
the  capacity ;  at  least,  I  am  determined  to  try,  and  I 
want  you  to  help  me."  This  friend  did  help  him,  and 
wrote  a  letter  of  hearty  commendation,  in  w^hich  he 
dwelt  especially  upon  his  courage  and  resolution.  As 
soon  as  the  letters  were  despatched  to  AYashington,  he 
began  to  review  his  studies,  in  which  he  was  assisted 
by  a  lawyer  in  Weston,  who  made  it  a  labor  of  love. 
In  due  time  the  answer  came  from  Mr.  Hays,  promis- 
ing to  do  all  in  his  power  to  secure  the  appointment, 
and  Jackson  resolved  at  once  to  go  to  Washington,  to 
be  ready  to  proceed  to  West  Point  without  a  mo- 
ment's delay.  So  eager  was  he  to  start  that  he  did 
not  wait  for  any  preparations,  but,  packing  his  plain 
wardrobe  into  a  pair  of  saddle-bags,  he  mounted  a 
horse  near  sundown,  and,  accompanied  by  a  servant 
who  w^as  to  bring  the  horse  home,  hurried  off  to 
Clarksburg  to  catch  the  stage-coach.  Upon  his  arrival 
he  found  that  the  coach  had  already  passed,  but, 
nothing  daunted,  he  galloped  on  and  overtook  it  at 
the  next  stopping-place,  and  continued  his  journey. 


32       I'I^'K  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

Arrived  at  AVasliington.  lie  went  straight  to  Mr. 
Havs,  who  showed  his  interest  and  kindness  by  taking 
him  iinniechately  to  the  Secretary  of  War;  and  in  pre- 
senting him,  ex])hiined  the  disadvantages  of  his  educa- 
tion, hilt  begged  for  him  favor  on  account  of  his  manly 
(kHermination.  The  Secretary  pHed  him  with  ques- 
tions, and  an  eye-witness  describes  the  parley  between 
them  as  being  "gruff  and  heroic,  but,  with  the  grit  of 
Old  Hickory,  this  young  Jackson  was  neither  to  be 
l)luired  nor  driven  from  his  purpose,"  and  so  much 
pleased  was  the  Secretary  with  his  manliness  and 
resolution  that  he  gave  him  the  apppointment  and 
said  to  him:  ''Sir,  you  have  a  good  name.  Go  to 
West  Point,  and  the  first  man  who  insults  you  knock 
him  down,  and  have  it  charged  to  my  account  I" 

Mr.  Hays  kindly  invited  him  to  spend  a  few  days 
with  him  in  Washington  to  see  the  city,  but  with  the 
one  all-absorbing  thought  now  in  his  mind  of  that 
long-desired  education  coming  within  his  grasp,  he  de- 
clined, saying  that  one  view  from  the  top  of  the  Capi- 
tol would  be  all  that  he  could  treat  himself  to  at  that 
time.  Accordingly  he  ascended  the  dome,  and  took  a 
view  of  the  magnificent  panorama  before  him,  and 
then  immediately  proceeded  on  his  journey. 

Mr.  Ilavs  crave  him  a  letter  of  introduction  to  the 
faculty,  bearing  testimony  to  his  excellent  character 
and  courageous  spirit,  and  asking  that  due  allowance 
be  made  for  his  limited  education :  and  his  letter  had 
such  weight  that  the  authorities  were  very  lenient  in 
their  examination,  and  he  was  admitted.  Here  then, 
in  June,  18-12,  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  Ave  find  him 
where  he  had  so  longed  to  be,  a  cadet  in  the  Military 
Academv  at  West  Point.     His  friends  had  done  for 


FOUR    YEARS  AS   A   CADET.  33 

him  all  they  could ;  henceforth  his  career  was  to  de- 
pend upon  himself. 

When  he  entered  upon  his  studies,  he  was  made  at 
once  to  feel  his  deficiency  in  preparation.  An  old 
friend  and  fellow-classmate  says :  "  He  had  a  rough 
time  in  the  Academy  at  first,  for  his  want  of  previous 
training  placed  him  at  a  great  disadvantage,  and  it 
was  all  he  could  do  to  pass  his  first  examination.  We 
Avere  studying  algebra,  and  maybe  analytical  geome- 
try, that  winter,  and  Jackson  was  very  low  in  his  class 
standing.  All  lights  were  put  out  at  '  taps,'  and  just 
before  the  signal  he  would  pile  up  his  grate  with  an- 
thracite coal,  and,  lying  prone  before  it  on  the  floor, 
would  work  away  at  his  lessons  by  the  glare  of  the 
fire,  which  scorched  his  very  brain,  till  a  late  hour  of 
the  night.  This  evident  determination  to  succeed  not 
only  aided  his  own  efforts  directly,  but  impressed  his 
instructors  in  his  favor,  and  he  rose  steadily  year  by 
3"ear,  till  we  used  to  say :  'If  we  had  to  stay  here 
another  3^ear,  "old  Jack"  would  be  at  the  head  of 
the  class.'  ...  I  believe  he  went  through  the  very 
trying  ordeal  of  the  four  years  at  West  Point  without 
ever  having  a  hard  word  or  a  bad  feeling  from  cadet 
or  professor ;  and  while  there  were  many  who  seemed 
to  surpass  him  in  the  graces  of  intellect,  in  geniality, 
and  in  good-fellowship,  there  was  no  one  of  our  class 
who  more  absolutely  possessed  the  respect  and  confi- 
dence of  all." 

He  himself  said  that  he  "  studied  very  hard  for  what 
he  got  at  West  Point,"  and  after  entering  and  seeing 
the  amount  of  study  he  had  to  do,  and  the  large  num- 
ber of  cadets  who  failed  annually,  he  fully  expected 
to  be  dismissed  at  the  close  of  his  first  year,  and  in 
3 


34  I^IFE  OF   GENERAL   THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

anticipation  he  endurrd  all  the  mortification  of  going 
honu'  and  l)eing  laughed  at ;  and  he  even  prepared 
what  he  would  say  to  his  young  friends,  intending  to 
tell  them,  "  If  they  had  been  there,  and  found  it  as 
hard  as  he  did,  they  would  have  failed  too."  He  was 
always  amused  when  speaking  of  this  period  of  his 
life,  and  of  the  importance  he  then  attached  to  the 
opinions  of  his  young  friends  and  companions.  But 
to  his  surprise  he  passed  his  first  year,  and  from  that 
time  he  made  steady  progress  until  at  the  end  of  four 
years  he  graduated,  seventeenth  in  a  large  and  distin- 
guished class  of  over  seventy.  Among  his  classmates 
were  Generals  McClellan,  Foster,  Reno,  Stoneman, 
Couch,  and  Gibbon,  of  the  Federal  army  ;  and  Generals 
A.  P.  Hill.  Pickett,  Maury,  D.  R.  Jones,  W.  D.  Smith, 
and  AVilcox,  of  the  Confederate  army. 

When  he  went  to  AY  est  Point  he  was  fresh  and 
ruddy  in  complexion,  but  had  not  yet  attained  his  full 
height,  and  is  described  as  being  a  slender  lad,  who 
walked  rapidly,  with  his  head  bent  forward.  He  had 
a  grave,  thoughtful  face ;  but  when  anything  interested 
or  excited  him  his  form  became  erect,  his  eyes  flashed 
like  steel,  and  a  smile,  as  sweet  as  a  woman's,  would 
illumine  his  whole  face."  The  life  he  led  there,  and 
the  constant  exercise  of  drilling,  soon  developed  his 
frame,  and  he  became  very  erect,  grew  rapidly,  and 
presented  a  fine,  soldierly  appearance.  The  habits  of 
neatness  and  system  wdiich  are  taught  at  West  Point 
clung  to  him  through  life,  and  punctuality  was  ever 
regarded  by  him  as  a  virtue.  In  his  intercourse  with 
his  associates  he  was  not  sociable,  except  Avith  a  few 
congenial  friends;  but  he  was  invariably  kind  and 
courteous  to  all,  and  alwavs  readv  to  aid  in  nursinsr 


RULES   OF   MORALS  AND   MANNERS.  35 

the  sick  and  in  helping  those  who  were  in  trouble. 
During  his  second  year  he  was  known  to  receive  some 
demerits,  which  he  had  not  incurred  himself,  but  he 
chose  rather  to  bear  the  blame  silently  than  to  expose 
those  who  had  unjustly  cast  it  upon  him.  He  said  he 
did  not  remember  to  have  spoken  to  a  lady  during  the 
whole  time  he  was  at  West  Point,  but  he  devoted  him- 
self with  all  his  mind  and  soul  to  his  studies,  giving 
but  little  time  or  thought  to  anything  else.  After  his 
arduous  daily  studies,  he  found  recreation  in  walking, 
and  with  a  companion  or  alone  he  wandered  over  the 
beautiful  hills  and  valleys  around  West  Point,  and  de- 
lighted in  climbing  Fort  Putnam,  or  "Old  Put,'-  as 
the  cadets  called  this  great  cliff,  which  is  a  very  strik- 
ing feature  in  the  scener}^,  and  from  which  he  greatly 
enjo3^ed  the  fine  view  of  the  majestic  river,  and  the 
varied  and  lovely  landscape. 

While  at  West  Point  he  compiled  in  a  private  blank- 
book,  for  his  own  use,  a  set  of  rules  and  maxims  re- 
lating to  morals,  manners,  dress,  choice  of  friends,  and 
the  aims  of  life.  Perhaps  the  most  characteristic  of 
these  maxims  was,  "  You  may  he  whatever  you  resolve 
to  he  ;'^  but  others  will  show  the  standards  by  which 
he  shaped  his  own  conduct  and  character  : 

"Through  life  let  your  principal  object  be  the  dis- 
charge of  duty. — Disregard  public  opinion  when  it 
interferes  with  your  duty. — Endeavor  to  be  at  peace 
with  all  men.— Sacrifice  your  life  rather  than  your 
word. — Endeavor  to  do  well  everything  which  you 
undertake. — Xever  speak  disrespectfully  of  any  one 
without  a  cause. — Spare  no  effort  to  suppress  selfish- 
ness, unless  that  effort  would  entail  sorrow. — Let  your 


36  LItK  OF  (;eneral  tuomas  j.  jacksox. 

conduct  towaids  men  have  some  uniformity. — Temper- 
ance :  Eiit  not  to  dulness,  drink  not  to  elevation.— Si- 
lence:  Speak  but  what  may  benefit  others  or  your- 
self; avoid  trifling  conversation.— Resolve  to  perform 
what  you  ought ;  perform  without  fail  what  you  re- 
solve.—Frugality  :  Make  no  expense  but  to  do  good 
to  others  or  yourself  ;  waste  nothing. — Industry :  Lose 
no  time;  be  always  employed  in  something  useful;  cut- 
off  unnecessary  actions.  —  Sincerity:  Use  no  hurtful 
deceit ;  think  innocently  and  justly,  and  if  you  speak, 
si)eak  accordingly.— Justice  :  Wrong  no  man  by  doing 
injuries,  or  omitting  the  benefits  that  are  your  duty. 
— Moderation:  Avoid  extremes;  forbear  resenting  in- 
juries as  much  as  you  think  tliey  deserve.  Cleanli- 
ness: Tolerate  no  uncleanliness  in  body,  clothes,  or 
habitation.  Tranquillity  :  Be  not  disturbed  at  trifles. 
nor  at  accidents,  common  or  unavoidable. 

'•  Motives  to  action :  1.  Regard  to  your  own  happi- 
ness. 2.  Regard  for  the  family  to  which  you  belong. 
3.  Strive  to  attain  a  very  great  elevation  of  charac- 
ter. 4.  Fix  upon  a  high  standard  of  action  and  char- 
acter. 

**  It  is  man's  highest  interest  not  to  violate,  or  attempt 
to  violate,  the  rules  which  Infinite  Wisdom  has  laid 
down.  The  means  by  which  men  are  to  attain  great 
elevation  may  be  classed  in  three  divisions — physical, 
mental,  and  moral.  Whatever  relates  to  health,  be- 
longs to  the  first ;  whatever  relates  to  the  improve- 
ment of  tlic  mind,  belongs  to  the  second.  The  for- 
mation of  go(jd  manners  and  vii'tuous  habits  consti- 
tutes the  third. 


POLITENESS  AND   GOOD-BREEDING.  37 

"Choice  of  Friends.  1.  A  man  is  known  by  the 
company  he  keeps.  2.  Be  cautious  in  your  selection. 
3.  There  is  danger  of  catching  the  habits  of  your  as- 
sociates. 

"  4.  Seek  those  who  are  intelligent  and  virtuous ; 
and,  if  possible,  those  who  are  a  little  above  you,  es- 
pecially in  moral  excellence. 

"  5.  It  is  not  desirable  to  have  a  large  number  of 
intimate  friends  ;  you  may  have  many  acquaintances, 
but  few  intimate  friends.  If  you  have  one  who  is 
what  he  should  be,  you  are  comparatively  happy. 

"  That  friendship  may  be  at  once  fond  and  lasting, 
there  must  not  only  be  equal  virtue  in  each,  but  virtue 
of  the  same  kind :  not  only  the  same  end  must  be  pro- 
posed, but  the  same  means  must  be  approved." 

He  had  also  copied  the  following  rules  from  a 
book  of  etiquette  on  Politeness  and  Good-breeding : 

''Good-breeding,  or  true  politeness,  is  the  art  of 
showing  men  by  external  signs  the  internal  regard 
Ave  have  for  them.  It  arises  from  good  sense,  im- 
proved by  good  company.  It  must  be  acquired  by 
practice  and  not  by  books. 

"  Be  kind,  condescending,  and  affable.  Any  one  who 
has  anything  to  say  to  a  fellow-being,  to  say  it  with 
kind  feelings  and  sincere  desire  to  please ;  and  this, 
whenever  it  is  done,  will  atone  for  much  awkwardness 
in  the  manner  of  expression. 

"  Good-breeding  is  opposed  to  selfishness,  vanity,  or 
pride.  Never  weary  your  company  by  talking  too 
long  or  too  frequently.  Always  look  people  in  the 
face  Avhen  addressing  them,  and  generally  when  they 


3S       I'll-i^  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

address  you.  Never  engross  the  whole  conversation 
to  yourself.  Say  as  little  of  yourself  and  friends  as 
possil)le. 

•'  Make  it  a  rule  never  to  accuse  without  due  con- 
sideration any  body  or  association  of  men.  Xever  try 
to  appear  more  wise  or  learned  than  the  rest  of  the 
com})any.  Xot  that  you  should  affect  ignorance,  but 
endeavor  to  remain  within  your  own  proper  sphere." 

Dui'ing  these  four  years  at  the  Military  Academy 
he  had  but  one  personal  difficulty.  This  was  caused 
by  another  cadet  changing  his  uncleaned  musket  for 
Jackson's,  which  was  alwa3's  kept  in  perfect  order. 
The  trick  was  very  soon  discovered  by  the  latter, 
whose  suspicion  fell  at  once  upon  the  real  culprit;  but 
as  his  gun  fortunately  had  a  private  mark  upon  it,  he 
knew  it  couid  be  identified  ;  so  after  telling  the  cap- 
tain of  the  circumstances,  he  quietly  bided  his  time 
until  that  evening  at  the  inspection  of  arms,  when  his 
clean,  shining  musket  was  found  in  the  hands  of  the 
man  whom  he  had  suspected,  wha,  when  he  was  ac- 
cused of  the  dishonorable  deed,  attempted  to  shield^ 
liimself  by  telling  a  falsehood.  Jackson,  who  was 
disgusted  with  the  indolence  and  meanness  of  the  ca- 
det, declaimed  that  he  was  a  disgrace  to  the  Academy, 
and  that  he  would  have  him  court-martialled  and  dis- 
missed. It  was  only  by  the  urgent  remonstrance  of 
both  cadets  and  professors  that  he  could  be  induced 
to  give  up  his  determination.  The  disgrace  of  the 
young  man  overtook  him,  however,  in  a  short  time 
after,  when  he  was  ex])elled  from  the  Academy  for 
violating  his  ])arole  of  honor. 

Jackson  graduated  on  the  30tli  ul"  June,  ISiO,  at  the 


HE   GRADUATES  FROM  WEST   POINT.  39 

age  of  twentv-two  years,  and  received  the  brevet  rank 
of  second  lientenant  of  artillery.  His  attachment  to 
his  Alma  Mater  was  very  strong,  and  upon  revisitmg 
the  place,  on  a  bridal  tour,  in  the  summer  of  1857,  his 
delio-ht  was  unbounded.  The  reunion  with  his  old 
professors  and  brother-officers  was  most  cordial  and 
gratifying,  and  with  the  latter  he  had  long  talks  and 
manv  hearty  laughs  over  old  barrack  reminiscences. 
At  the  dawn  of  day  he  was  off  to  climb  the  heights 
of  Fort  Putnam,  and  once  more  to  enjoy  the  view 
of  the  Hudson,  Avinding  among  the  hills  and  dales  of 
that  enchanting  region.  There  was  scarcely  a  spot 
that  he  did  not  visit  in  and  around  West  Point. 


CIIAPTEE  IV. 

THE    WAR  WITH    MEXICO— 184G-1S48. 

"When  young  Jackson  graduated  at  AVest  Point,  the 
war  with  ^lexico  had  begun,  and  his  whole  class  was 
ordered  to  proceed  at  once  to  the  scene  of  action.  Our 
lieutenant  had  orders  to  report  innnediately  for  dut\^ 
with  the  First  Regiment  of  Artillery,  and  went  direct- 
ly to  New  Orleans,  from  w^hich  he  sailed  for  Mexico. 
General  Winfield  Scott  was  the  commander-in-chief 
of  the  army  of  the  United  States.  The  w^ar  contin- 
ued two  years,  and  Jackson  was  in  most  of  the  battles 
that  were  fought  from  Yera  Cruz  to  the  fall  of  the 
capital,  which  ended  hostilities. 

On  the  0th  of  March,  1847,  thirteen  thousand  five 
hundred  men  landed  in  one  day  upon  the  open  beach 
near  Vera  Cruz;  and  as  they  disembarked  from  the 
manv  vessels  of  the  squadron,  under  a  cloudless  sky, 
and  marched  in  perfect  order,  w4th  martial  music 
and  colors  flying,  amid  the  cheers  of  the  enthusiastic 
soldiers,  and  took  their  positions  by  sunset,  it  was  a 
sj)ectacle  that  impressed  Lieutenant  Jackson  as  ex- 
ceeding in  brilliance  and  animation  any  that  he  had 
ever  witnessed.  The  city  was  taken  in  a  few  days, 
and  in  the  battle  Captain  John  Hankhead  Magruder 
greatlv  distinguished  himself  as  commander  of  his  bat- 
tery of  light  field  artillery.  He  was  a  very  strict  dis- 
ci])linarian,  and  the  position  of  second  lieutenant  being 


THE   BATTLE   OF   CHERUBUSCO.  41 

vacant  in  his  battery,  there  were  not  many  young  oifi- 
cers  w  ho  desired  the  place.  But  Jackson,  who  saw  that 
its  dangers  and  hardships  offered  advantages  for  quick 
promotion,  apphed  for  and  received  the  appointment. 
Mao-ruder  was  a  darin^:  officer,  alwavs  in  the  thickest 
of  the  light,  where  his  dash  and  heroism  won  him  great 
distinction,  in  which  his  subordinates  were  bound  to 
share,  and,  of  course,  had  the  opportunity  of  winning 
glory  for  themselves. 

In  the  battle  of  Cherubusco  Captain  Magruder  lost 
his  first  heutenant,  Mr.  Johnstone,  early  in  the  action ; 
and  as  Jackson  had  to  take  his  place,  he  was  advanced 
next  in  command  to  the  captain,  whom  we  will  leave 
to  describe  the  manner  in  which  his  young  lieutenant 
acquitted  himself.  In  his  official  report,  Captain  Ma- 
gruder says:  "In  a  few  moments,  Lieutenant  Jack- 
son, commanding  the  second  section  of  the  battery, 
who  had  opened  fire  upon  the  enemy's  works  from  a 
position  on  the  right,  hearing  our  fire  still  further  in 
front,  advanced  in  handsome  style,  and  being  assigned 
by  me  to  the  post  so  gallantly  filled  by  Lieutenant 
Johnstone,  kept  up  the  fire  with  great  briskness  and 
effect.  His  conduct  was  equally  conspicuous  during 
the  whole  day,  and  I  cannot  too  highly  commend  him 
to  the  major-general's  favorable  consideration."  For 
his  gallantry  in  this  battle  he  was  promoted  to  the 
brevet  rank  of  captain. 

In  storming  the  Castle  of  Chapultepec,  Captain  Ma- 
gruder again  compliments  him  highly,  and  recom- 
mends him  for  promotion  thus :  "  I  beg  leave  to  call 
the  attention  of  the  major-general  commanding  to  the 
conduct  of  Lieutenant  Jackson  of  the  First  Artillery. 
If  devotion,  industry,  talent,  and  gallantry  are  the 


42      I^I^■E  OK  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

highest  qiuUities  of  a  soldier,  then  is  he  entitled  to 
the  distinction  which  their  i)ossession  confers.  I  have 
been  al)ly  seconded  in  all  the  operations  of  the  bat- 
terv  by  him;  and  upon  this  occasion,  when  circum- 
stances placed  him  in  command,  for  a  short  time,  of 
an  inde])endent  section,  he  proved  himself  eminently 
worthy  of  it." 

General  Scott,  in  his  official  report,  makes  honora- 
ble mention  of  the  part  young  Jackson  bore  in  this 
assault,  and  (rcnerals  Pillow  and  Worth  both  add  their 
testimony  to  his  meritorious  conduct.  General  Pillow 
says  :  ''  The  advanced  section  of  the  battery,  under 
command  of  the  brave  Lieutenant  Jackson,  was  dread- 
fully cut  up,  and  almost  disabled.  .  .  .  Captain  Ma- 
crruder's  batterv,  one  section  of  which  was  served 
with  great  gallantry  by  himself  and  the  other  by  his 
brave  lieutenant,  Jackson,  in  face  of  a  galling  fire 
from  the  enemy's  position,  did  invaluable  service." 

General  Worth  speaks  of  him  as  ''  the  gallant  Jack- 
son, who,  although  he  had  lost  most  of  his  horses  and 
manv  of  his  men,  continued  chivalrously  at  his  post, 
combating  with  noble  courage." 

A  brother  officer,  who  was  not  only  an  eye-witness, 
but  an  actor  in  the  storming  of  Chapultepec,  gives 
the  following  details  of  Jackson's  part  in  the  as- 
sault •. 

•*  hieutenant  Jackson's  section  of  Magruder's  battery 
was  sul)jecte(l  to  a  plunging  fire  from  the  Castle  of  Cha- 
])uhcj)ec.  The  little  six-pounders  could  effect  nothing 
against  tlie  guns  of  the  Mexicans,  of  mucli  heavier  cali- 
bre, firing-  from  an  elevation.  The  horses  were  killed 
or  disabled,  and  the  men  became  so  demoralized  that 


THE   STORMING   OF   CHAPULTEPEC.  43 

they  deserted  the  guns  and  sought  shelter  behind  a 
wall  or  embankment.  Lieutenant  Jackson  remained 
at  the  guns,  walking  back  and  forth,  and  kept  saying, 
'  See,  there  is  no  danger ;  I  am  not  hit !'  While  stand- 
ing with  his  legs  wide  apart,  a  cannon-ball  passed  be- 
tween them;  and  this  fact  probably  prevented  him 
from  having  any  confidence  in  what  the  soldiers 
playfully  called  being  '  stung  by  a  bomb.'  The  assault- 
ing columns  for  the  storming  of  Chapultepec  consisted 
of  250  regulars  from  Twiggs's  Division  and  250  regu- 
lars from  Worth's.  These  were  all  volunteers  for  the 
forlorn  hope.  The  ofiicers  and  non-commissioned  offi- 
cers were  induced  to  volunteer  by  the  promise  of  pro- 
motion, and  the  men  by  the  promise  of  pecuniary  re- 
ward. The  rifle  regiment  under  Colonel  Persifer  F. 
Smith,  the  Palmetto  Regiment,  and  the  Marine  Bat- 
talion under  Major  Twiggs  (brother  of  the  general) 
supported  the  storming  party  from  Twiggs's  Division. 
When  the  castle  was  captured,  many  of  the  stormers 
dispersed  in  search  of  plunder  and  liquor.  A  few  pur- 
sued promptly  the  retreating  column  of  Mexicans. 
Lieutenants  D.  H.  Hill  and  Barnard  Bee  followed 
down  the  causeway  towards  the  Garita  of  San  Cosme. 
Every  shot  told  on  the  huddled  and  demoralized  thou- 
sands of  Mexicans,  but  their  fire  back  upon  the  thirsty, 
pursuing  Americans  was  harmless.  After  the  chase 
had  been  continued  over  a  mile,  Lieutenant  Jackson 
came  up  with  two  pieces  of  artillery,  and  joined  the 
two  young  officers.  They  now  pressed  on  vigorously. 
Captain  Magruder  himself  soon  appeared  with  cais- 
sons and  men,  but  no  additional  guns.  He  expressed 
a  fear  of  losing  the  two  guns,  as  the  division  of  Gen- 
eral AYorth  was  far  in  the  rear,  but  he  yielded  to  the 


44  I'lFE   OF   GF:.VERAL  TIIOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 

solicitations  of  the  young  men,  and  continued  the 
march.  Shoi-tly  after  the  ariival  of  Captain  Magru- 
der  a  cohimn  of  two  thousand  cavah'y,  under  General 
Amjuidia.  made  a  demonstration  of  charging  upon  the 
guns.  Thev  were  unlimbered,  and  a  rapid  fire  was 
opened  ui)on  the  ^Mexicans,  who  retreated  without  at- 
tacking the  artillery.  It  was  not  judged  prudent  to 
proceed  farther,  and  the  command  halted  until  Gen- 
eral Worth  came  up.  The  part  played  later  in  the 
day  by  the  battery  at  the  Garita  of  San  Cosme  is  men- 
tioned in  the  official  reports.  For  gallantry  in  the 
battles  of  Contreras  and  Cherubusco,  on  the  20th  of 
August,  Lieutenant  Jackson  had  been  bre vetted  a  cap- 
tain ;  and  now  this  storming  of  Chapultepec,  on  the 
13th  of  September,  won  him  the  brevet  of  major.  In 
the  first  batch  of  brevetted  promotions  there  Avere  only 
five  or  six  who  received  double  brevets,  and  these 
were  the  first  who  were  promoted  on  recommenda- 
tions from  the  field."  Jackson  Avas  among  this  num- 
ber, and  was  the  only  one  of  his  class  who  rose  to  this 
distinction.  "  Xo  other  officer  in  the  whole  army  in 
^lexico  was  promoted  so  often  for  meritorious  conduct 
or  made  so  great  a  stride  in  rank." 

In  the  storming  of  Chapultepec,  when  at  the  mo- 
ment of  greatest  danger  he  was  almost  deserted  by  his 
men.  lie  refused  to  retire  without  orders  from  his  com- 
mander. However,  lie  was  soon  relieved  by  reinforce- 
ments. Years  afterwards,  when  his  pupils  at  Lexing- 
ton were  asking  him  for  the  particulars  of  the  scene, 
he  modestly  described  it,  when  one  of  them  exclaimed, 
in  astonisliment,  "  Major,  why  didn't  you  run  when 
your  command  was  so  disabled  T'    With  a  quiet  smile 


"MY   DUTY   IS   TO   OBEY  ORDERS."  45 

he  replied,  "  I  was  not  ordered  to  do  so.  If  I  had 
been  ordered  to  run,  I  should  have  done  so;  but  I  was 
directed  to  hold  ray  position,  and  I  had  no  right  to 
abandon  it."  In  after-years  he  confessed  that  the 
part  he  played  in  stepping  out  and  assuring  his  men 
that  there  was  no  danger,  when  the  cannon-ball  passed 
between  his  legs,  was  the  only  Avilful  falsehood  he 
ever  told  in  his  life !  In  speaking  of  the  storming  of 
Chapultepec  to  a  friend,  he  described  one  of  those 
awful  casualties  of  war  when,  in  consequence  of  some 
misunderstanding  on  the  part  of  the  besieged  in  ob- 
serving directions  to  clear  the  streets  of  the  city  of 
non-combatants,  the  guns  of  his  battery  were  ordered 
to  sweep  a  street  which  was  filled  by  a  panic-stricken 
crowd,  and  after  the  smoke  of  the  charge  had  cleared 
away  he  could  trace  distinctly  the  track  of  destruc- 
tion his  own  guns  had  made.  IS'o  one  felt  more  than 
he  the  horrors  of  war ;  but,  with  his  high  sense  of  a 
soldier's  duty,  he  felt  that  he  had  no  right  to  "  ask  the 
reason  why,"  or  to  stop  to  consider  the  consequences. 
As  he  often  said,  "My  duty  is  to  obey  orders T 

After  the  occupation  of  the  city  of  Mexico  by 
the  United  States  troops,  there  was  a  season  of 
rest  for  several  months,  which  was  very  refreshing 
and  delightful  to  Major  Jackson;  and  as  he,  with  a 
number  of  other  officers,  had  their  quarters  in  the 
national  palace,  he  used  to  say  jocularly  that  no  one 
came  nearer  to  realizing  the  boast  of  the  politicians 
of  the  day,  that  "their  soldiers  should  lodge  in  the 
halls  of  the  Montezumas  1" 

Here  his  life  of  ease  and  luxury  was  quite  a  contrast 
to  the  stormy  period  through  which  he  had  passed ; 
and  when  we  hear  of  his  adopting  the  Spanish  cus- 


4,6       I^II"'E  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

toms — taking  his  morning  cup  of  coffee  before  rising, 
his  hue  dinner,  in  which  Spanish  art  ahnost  rivalled  the 
delicious  fruits  of  that  semi-tropical  climate — it  does  not 
surprise  us  that,  for  the  mere  delight  of  Uving,  he  con- 
sidered the  city  of  Mexico  to  surpass  all  others  he  had 
ever  known.  But  notwithstanding  his  luxurious  and 
attractive  surroundings,  the  young  soldier  never  neg- 
lected his  duties,  which  he  performed  with  the  utmost 
punctiliousness. 

After  the  cessation  of  hostilities  and  the  peaceful 
possession  of  the  capital  by  the  United  States  army, 
the  peo]5le  began  to  yield  kindly  to  the  advances  of 
the  conquerors,  and  there  was  soon  a  friendly  com- 
mingling of  the  two  nations  which  had  so  lately  been 
in  deadly  conflict.  The  homes  of  the  old  noUesse, 
whose  pride  Avas  their  pure  Castilian  blood,  were 
opened  in  cordial  welcome  to  the  American  officers ; 
and  the  charms  of  society  never  had  greater  fascina- 
tion for  Major  Jackson  than  when  in  the  presence  of 
the  beautiful  and  graceful  Mexican  women.  However, 
there  was  one  drawback  to  his  perfect  enjoyment,  for, 
much  as  he  could  feast  his  eyes,  he  could  not  have  the 
pleasure  of  conversing  with  these  charmers,  as  he  was 
ignorant  of  their  language.  But  to  a  go-ahead  young 
man  this  was  a  trifle  easily  overcome ;  so  he  went  to 
work  and  studied  under  a  Spanish  gentleman,  until 
he  soon  learned  both  to  speak  and  read  Spanish  flu- 
ently. His  admiration  for  the  language  Avas  great, 
and  he  always  said  it  was  meant  for  lovers,  the  terms 
of  endearment  being  so  musical  and  abundant.  He 
adopted  them  for  his  own  use,  and  delighted  in  lav- 
ishing them  upon  those  dearest  to  him.  Indeed,  he 
acknowledged  that  he  came  very  near  losing  his  heart 


SOCIETY   IN   THE   CITY   OF   MEXICO.  47 

in  Mexico,  the  fascinations  of  at  least  one  dark-eyed 
senorita  proving  almost  too  great  for  his  resistance ; 
but  he  found  safety  in  compelling  himself  to  discon- 
tinue his  visits,  and  thus  escaped  capture.  "  Discre- 
tion is  the  better  part  of  valor  "  was  a  maxim  that  he 
often  quoted.  He  formed  some  warm  attachments  for 
his  "  fine  Spanish  friends,"  as  he  called  them,  and 
brouo^ht  home  a  number  of  interestino^  little  souvenirs 
with  which  they  presented  him :  among  them  a  hand- 
some paper-knife,  card-cases,  gold  pencil,  and  a  mas- 
sive silver  spoon  that  might  have  been  designed  for 
royalty,  it  having  a  curious  little  compartment  in  the 
centre,  for  the  purpose  of  testing  poison !  Those  who 
knew  him  afterwards  as  so  strict  and  rigid  in  his  ab- 
stinence from  worldly  pleasures  may  be  surprised  to 
know  that  as  a  young  man  he  was  very  fond  of  danc- 
ing, and  participated  with  great  zest  in  the  balls  of 
the  pleasure -loving  Mexicans.  Years  later,  in  the 
privacy  and  freedom  of  his  own  home  in  Lexington, 
he  used  frequently  to  dance  the  polka  for  exercise, 
but  no  eye  but  that  of  his  wife  was  ever  permitted  to 
witness  this  recreation.  The  delicious  climate  and 
beautiful  scenery  of  Mexico,  with  its  wealth  of  flow- 
ers and  tropical  fruits,  so  charmed  him  that  he  often 
said  that  if  the  people  had  been  equal  to  their  climate, 
and  the  civil  and  religious  privileges  had  been  as  great 
as  those  of  his  own  country,  he  would  have  preferred 
a  home  there  to  any  other  part  of  the  world.  Yet  in 
the  midst  of  all  this  gayety  he  had  his  sober  thoughts, 
and  it  was  while  still  in  Mexico  that  he  began  that 
religious  life  which  was  so  marked  in  all  his  future 
career. 

The  commanding  officer  of  his  regiment,  the  First 


48  I^IFK    OF  GENERAL   THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 

Artillery,  was  Colonel  Francis  Taylor,  an  earnest 
Christian,  who  labored  much  for  the  spiritual  welfare 
of  liis  soldiers.  He  was  the  first  man  to  speak  to  Jack- 
son on  the  subject  of  personal  religion,  with  whom  the 
sense  of  duty  was  so  strong  that  once  convinced  that 
a  thing  was  right  and  that  he  ought  to  do  it,  he  im- 
mediately undertook  it ;  and  so  he  resolved  to  study 
the  ]>i])le  and  seek  all  the  light  within  his  reach.  At 
that  time  he  had  but  little  knowledge  of  creeds,  and 
no  special  preference  for  any  denomination.  His 
mother,  it  is  supjwsed,  had  been  a  member  of  the 
Metliodist  Church,  but  after  his  separation  from  her 
at  an  early  age  it  is  not  likely  that  he  received  any 
religious  instruction.  One  statement  is  that  his  mother 
htul  him  baptized  in  infancy  b}^  a  Presbyterian  clergy- 
man, the  Rev.  Asa  Brooks ;  but  if  this  be  so,  it  is 
probable  that  he  did  not  know  it  himself,  or  he  would 
not  have  had  the  rite  administered  to  him  after  he 
was  grown  to  manhood,  for  he  believed  in  infant  bap- 
tism, lie  had  been  more  accustomed  to  the  Episcopal 
service  than  an}^  other,  as  the  chaplains  at  West  Point 
and  in  the  army  had  been  chiefly  of  that  denomina- 
tion, and  his  friend  Colonel  Taylor  was  a  devout 
Episcopalian ;  but  he  determined  to  examine  all  the 
religious  creeds,  and  decide  for  himself  which  came 
nearest  to  his  ideas  of  the  Bible  standard  of  faith  and 
practice.  Being  then  in  the  midst  of  educated  Roman 
Catholics,  he  resolved  to  investigate  their  system,  and 
for  this  purpose  he  sought  the  acquaintance  of  the 
Archbishop  of  Mexico,  with  whom  he  had  several 
interviews.  lie  believed  him  to  be  a  sincere  and  de- 
vout man,  and  was  impressed  with  his  learning  and 
affability  ;  but  the  venerable  prelate  failed  to  convince 


STOKEWALL   JACKSON   AT   THE   AGE   OF   TWENTY-FOUR, 

(From  a  daguerreotype.) 


STATIONED    AT    FORT    HAMILTON.  49 

him  of  the  truth  of  his  tenets  of  belief.  His  prefer- 
ence for  a  simpler  form  of  faith  and  worship  led  him 
to  wait  until  he  could  have  the  opportunity  of  learn- 
ing more  of  other  churches. 

The  United  States  troops  returned  from  Mexico  in 
the  summer  of  ISJrS,  and  Major  Jackson's  command 
was  stationed  for  two  years  at  Fort  Hamilton,  on 
Long  Island.  Here  he  led  a  quiet,  uneventful  life, 
forming  some  pleasant  friendships  among  the  resi- 
dents, and  especially  with  the  ladies  of  the  garrison. 
He  attended  with  more  diligence  than  ever  to  his  re- 
ligious duties,  but  acknowledged  that  he  went  through 
his  Bible  reading  and  prayers  with  no  feeling  stronger 
than  having  performed  a  duty.  Colonel  Taylor  was 
residing  near  him,  and  their  intercourse  was  delight- 
ful and  instructive  to  the  junior  officer,  wdio  always 
spoke  of  his  colonel  with  gratitude  and  reverence. 
The  chaplain  of  the  garrison  at  that  time  is  said  to 
have  been  a  Eev.  Mr.  Parks,  to  whom  Major  Jackson 
became  much  attached,  and  at  whose  hands  it  has 
been  reported  that  he  received  the  sacrament  of  bap- 
tism. That  he  had  such  a  friend  and  spiritual  ad- 
viser is  doubtless  true,  but  that  he  was  baptized  by 
him  is  a  mistake.  I  visited  Fort  Hamilton  a  few 
years  ago,  and  sought  out  the  little  chapel  in  which 
he  worshipped  while  there  (St.  John's  Episcopal),  and 
with  the  aid  of  one  of  the  wardens,  a  friend  of  Major 
Jackson,  examined  the  records  of  the  church,  where 
appeared  the  following  entry  : 

"  On  Sunday,  29th  day  of  April,  1849,  I  baptized 
Thomas  Jefferson  Jackson,  major  in  the  U.  S.  Army. 
Sponsors,  Colonels  Dimick  and  Taylor. 

"  M,   SCHOFIELD." 

4 


50       LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

The  minister  very  naturally  made  the  mistake  of 
sup]^osing  his  second  name  was  Jefferson,  instead  of 
Jonathan,  the  illustrious  President  of  that  name  hav- 
ing had  so  many  namesakes.  Upon  the  church  rec- 
ords it  was  also  interesting  to  find  the  name  of  Robert 
E.  Lee,  Captain  Corps  Engineers,  as  a  vestryman  in 
1S42.  The  names  of  the  rectors  of  the  parish  np  to 
that  time  were  given,  but  that  of  Mr.  Parks  does  not 
appear  among  them.  It  is  my  impression  that  Mr. 
Parks  had  chai'ge  of  a  church  in  the  city  of  Kew 
York,  as  I  have  heard  Major  Jackson  speak  warmly 
and  gratefully  of  a  ministerial  friend  in  that  city;  and 
as  Mr.  Parks  was  an  alumnus  of  AVest  Point,  this  is 
most  probable. 

Although  he  had  applied  for  and  received  the  sacra- 
ment of  baptism  in  the  Episcopal  Church,  his  mind 
was  not  yet  made  up  on  the  subject  of  churches,  and 
he  chose  to  wait  for  further  opportunities  of  acquaint- 
ing himself  with  the  creeds.  But  having  accepted 
Jesus  Christ  as  his  Saviour  and  Redeemer,  he  wished 
to  avow  his  faith  before  men,  and  became  a  member 
of  that  "Holy  Catholic  Church"  whose  creed  is  em- 
braced by  all  evangelical  denominations.  Baptism 
in  the  Episcopal  Church  gave  him  the  right  to  be- 
come a  communicant,  and  with  this  privilege  he  was 
content,  and  he  did  not  apply  for  the  rite  of  con- 
firmation. 

One  of  the  pleasant  experiences  of  his  garrison  life 
at  Fort  Hamilton  was  the  horseback  exercise  he  daily 
indulged  in;  and,  mounted  on  a  favorite  little  horse, 
•'  Fancy,"  he  rode  all  over  the  country,  and  along  the 
shores  of  the  beautiful  bav. 


CHAPTER  Y. 

PROFESSOR   IX   THE   VIRGINIA    MILITARY   INSTITUTE— 
1851-1861. 

At  the  close  of  his  two  years'  terra  of  service  at 
Fort  Harailton,  Major  Jackson  was  ordered  to  Fort 
Meade,  near  Tampa  Bay,  in  Florida,  where  he  re- 
mained about  six  months.  The  warm  climate  he 
found  enervating  and  injurious  to  his  health  ;  but  a 
delightful  change  soon  came,  removing  him  to  the 
bracing  air  of  the  Yalley  of  Virginia.  This  great 
valley,  which  lies  between  the  two  ranges  of  the  Blue 
Ridge  and  Alleghany  Mountains,  is  justly  celebrated 
as  the  most  beautiful,  picturesque,  and  fertile  part  of 
the  State.  The  county  of  Rockbridge  derives  its 
name  from  the  Xatural  Bridge,  where  a  massive  and 
sohd  arch  of  rock  spans  a  chasm,  into  whose  depths  the 
beholder  looks  down  with  awe.  At  the  bottom  of  the 
ravine  a  little  stream  ripples  along,  adding  a  tender 
grace  and  beauty  to  the  surrounding  sublimity  and 
grandeur. 

Of  this  famous  county,  Lexington  is  the  capital 
town.  If,  in  describing  this  little  gem  of  a  place,  I 
seem  extravagant,  the  reader  will  pardon  me,  since 
here  was  centred  all  the  romance  of  my  life ;  here 
were  spent  my  happiest  days ;  and  it  is  still  to  me 
the  most  sacred  of  all  places,  as  here  the  mountains 
keep  watch  and  guard  around  the  home  and  the 
tombs  of  those  who  were  dearest  to  me  on  earth. 


52  LII-'E   OF   GENEHAI>    THOMAS   J.    JACKSON. 

The  scenery  around  Lexington  is  exquisitely  beauti- 
ful, being  varied  by  ranges  of  mountains,  hills,  and 
valleys,  with  fine  forests  and  fertile  fields  of  fruit 
and  grain.  The  wealth  of  green  in  spring  and  sum- 
mer, the  resplendent  tints  of  autumn,  and  the  snow- 
cap})ed  peaks  of  winter  present  a  perpetual  feast  to  the 
eye.  Some  of  the  mountains  take  their  names  from 
the  objects  which  they  are  supposed  to  resemble.  The 
most  distinctive  one,  as  seen  from  the  town,  suggests 
the  form  of  a  large  building:  hence  it  is  called  the 
*'  House  Mountain."  It  is  a  very  striking  feature  in 
the  western  horizon,  and  is  most  beautiful  when  light- 
ed up  by  the  setting  sun.  Another  ridge,  from  some 
fancied  resemblance,  is  called  the  "  Hog's  Back."  It 
is  a  fine  mountain  ridge,  in  s])ite  of  its  unromantic 
name. 

Lexington  has  long  been  noted  for  its  two  grand 
institutions,  one  of  which  ^vas  founded  before  the 
Revolutionary  War,  and  received  a  large  endowment 
from  the  father  of  his  country,  from  which  it  was 
called  AYashington  College — a  name  that  it  continued 
to  bear  until  after  the  late  war,  when  General  Lee  be- 
came its  president,  upon  which  his  name  was  also 
given  to  it,  so  that  what  was  before  Washington  Col- 
lege is  now  Washington  and  Lee  University.  Gen- 
eral Lee,  and  his  son.  General  G.  W.  Custis  Lee,  who 
succeeded  him  in  the  presidency,  have  improved  the 
spacious  grounds  till  they  are  as  attractive  as  a  city 
park.  The  former  built  the  chapel,  which,  after  his 
death,  was  made  a  memorial  chapel  and  a  mausoleum, 
in  which  is  placed  Valentine's  exquisite  recumbent 
statue  of  the  great  soldier.  This  is  to  the  visitor  the 
chief  attraction  of  Lexinoton. 


THE    VIRGINIA    MILITARY    INSTITUTE.  53 

A  few  hundred  yards  beyond  the  University,  upon 
the  same  elevated  ridge,  but  farther  out  of  town, 
stands  the  Virginia  Mihtary  Institute,  with  its  castel- 
lated buildings  and  extensive  grounds.  The  barracks 
command  a  magnificent  view  of  the  country  for  miles 
around.  This  school  was  founded  upon  the  model  of 
the  United  States  Military  Academy,  and  is  called  the 
"  West  Point  of  the  South." 

The  society  of  Lexington,  as  is  usual  in  seats  of 
learning,  is  so  cultivated  and  intelligent  that  it  ri- 
vals that  gathered  round  the  State  University  of 
Virginia.  But  apart  from  the  professors'  families, 
others,  attracted  bv  these  opportunities  of  education, 
have  made  Lexington  their  home ;  so  that  it  has  be- 
come known  in  all  the  count rj^  not  only  as  a  seat  of 
learning,  but  of  general  cultivation,  refinement,  and 
hospitality. 

In  the  Military  Institute  Major  Jackson  was  elected 
Professor  of  JSTatural  and  Experimental  Philosophy 
and  Artiller}^  Tactics  on  the  2Tth  of  March,  1851,  and 
thus  Lexington  became  his  home  for  ten  years.  Of 
his  election  his  friend,  and  subsequently  his  brother- 
in-law,  General  D.  H.  Hill  (then  major),  gives  the  fol- 
lowing account : 

"  The  circumstances  attending  the  election  of  Major 
Jackson  to  a  chair  in  the  Virginia  Military  Institute 
will  be  of  interest  to  those  who  believe  in  the  special 
providence  of  God.  It  will  be  remembered  that  Gen- 
eral Scott  withdrew  from  General  Taylor  the  greater 
portion  of  his  regular  troops  for  the  invasion  of  Mex- 
ico by  the  Vera  Cruz  line.  The  troops  withdrawn 
marched  to  Camargo,  where  the}^  took  river  steamers 


54  I^IFE    OF   (JKNEliAL    THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 


TIIE   VIRGI>;iA    MILITAKY  INSTITUTE. 

to  Point  Isabel,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande,  and 
waited  there  for  ocean  transports  to  take  them  to 
Vera  Cruz.  A  young  officer  who  had  served  with 
General  Taylor,  and  was  waiting  with  his  regiment 
on  the  beach  at  Point  Isabel,  strolled  over  one  after- 
n(jun  to  see  Captain  Taylor,  of  the  artillery.  While 
in  conversation.  Captain  Taylor  said:  'Here  comes 
Lieutenant  Jackson.  I  w^ant  you  to  know  him.  He 
was  constantly  rising  in  the  class  at  West  Point,  and 
if  the  course  had  been  a  year  longer  he  would  have 
irraduated  at  the  head  of  his  class.  He  will  make  his 
mark  in  this  war.'  The  young  men  were  introduced, 
and  soon  after  took  a  walk  on  the  beach,  Lieutenant 
Jackson  admiring  the  grandeur  of  the  ocean.  He 
said,  among  other  things  :  '  I  envy  you  men  who  have 
been  ill  liattlc.  II(jw  I  would  like  to  be  in  ofie  battle!' 
and  expressed  the  fear  that  the  war  might  come  to  an 
end  b^.'loi'e  his  wish  could  be  gratilied.  Little  did  he 
then  know  liow  many  scores  of  battles  he  would  direct, 


HOW   HE   CAME   TO   BE   A  PROFESSOR.  55 

and  how  breathlessly  the  two  divided  sections  of  the 
nation  would  watch  his  terrible  movements!  The 
two  young  officers  parted  to  meet  under  the  walls  of 
Yera  Cruz.  After  a  night  of  toil  they  sought  shelter 
under  a  sand-bank  to  snatch  a  few  hours'  sleep,  when 
an  enormous  shell  from  the  Castle  of  San  Juan  de 
Ulloa  came  crashing  through  their  shelter,  and  nearly 
ended  their  earthly  career.  They  were  side  by  side 
in  the  pursuit  of  the  Mexicans  after  the  fall  of  Cha- 
pultepec,  and  they  met  again  some  time  after  the  capt- 
ure of  the  city  of  Mexico.  The  war  closed.  Major 
Jackson  remained  in  the  service." 

Major  Hill  himself  resigned,  and  accepted  a  profess- 
orship in  the  "  College "  at  Lexington,  not  the  Mili- 
tar}^  Institute.  A  few  years  after  he  had  been  here 
he  went  one  morning  to  see  Colonel  F.  II.  Smith, 
superintendent  of  the  Institute,  and  found  him  much 
perplexed  in  consequence  of  a  difference  between  him- 
self and  the  Board  of  Yisitors.  They  wished  to  elect 
as  a  professor  R.  E.  Rodes  (afterwards  major-general 
in  the  Confederate  army),  and  he  preferred  a  gradu- 
ate of  West  Point.  There  was  a  good  deal  of  feeling 
among  them,  but  a  compromise  was  finally  effected, 
and  the  chair  was  offered  to  Professor  A.  P.  Stewart, 
a  graduate  of  West  Point,  but  at  that  time  in  Cum- 
berland University.  Professor  Stewart  had  declined, 
and  Colonel  Smith  apprehended  a  renewal  of  the  old 
trouble.  He  handed  an  Army  Catalogue  to  his  vis- 
itor, and  asked  him  to  suggest  a  suitable  officer  to  fill 
the  chair.  As  he  glanced  over  the  catalogue,  his  eye 
fell  upon  the  name  of  Jackson,  and  the  conversation 
with  Captain  Taylor  instantly  occurred  to  him — -  If 


50       LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

the  course  had  been  one  year  longer,  Jackson  would 
have  irraduated  at  the  head  of  his  class."  Colonel 
Smith  was  pleased  with  the  name  suggested.  In  a 
few  days  he  started  for  Eichmond,  wliere  there  was 
an  adjourned  meeting  of  the  Board.  The  Hon.  John 
S.  Carlisle,  representative  in  Congress  from  Western 
\'irginia,  and  a  connection  of  Major  Jackson,  was  a 
member  of  the  Board,  and  heartily  endorsed  the  nom- 
ination. It  was  thought  desirable,  too,  to  elect  a  pro- 
fessor from  Western  Virginia  to  secure  patronage  from 
that  quarter,  most  of  the  cadets  then  coming  from  the 
East.  So  Major  Jackson  was  elected  unanimously  to 
the  chair  of  Natural  Philosophy,  Professor  Gilham 
retaining  that  of  Chemistry. 

It  was  Major  Jackson's  connection  with  the  Virginia 
Military  Institute  which  opened  for  him  his  career 
in  the  war.  It  identified  him  with  the  Valley,  and 
gave  him  Valley  men  for  his  soldiers.  It  made  him 
familiar  with  the  ground  upon  Avhich  his  earliest  vic- 
tories were  won.  But  by  what  a  chain  of  apparently 
fortuitous  circumstances  was  he  led  to  Lexington  I 
The  conversation  at  Point  Isabel  was  the  first  link — 
the  intercourse  betw^een  the  young  men  in  Mexico; 
the  disagreement  between  Colonel  Smith  and  the 
Board ;  Professor  Stewart's  declining ;  the  chance 
visit  to  Colonel  Smith's  office — these  were  the  sub- 
sequent links. 

At  the  time  of  Major  Jackson's  acceptance  of  this 
professorshij)  his  health  was  not  good,  and  his  eyes, 
especially,  were  so  weak  that  he  had  to  exercise  great 
cauti(jn  in  using  them,  never  doing  so  at  night.  Thus 
crippled  foi'  his  work,  a  friend  asked  him  if  it  was  not 
[)resumptioii  in  him  to  accept  the  place  when  he  was 


"WHAT   I    WILL   TO   DO,  I   CAX   DO."  57 

physically  incapacitated  to  fill  it.  "  Xot  in  the  least," 
was  his  prompt  answer;  "the  appointment  came  un- 
sought, and  w^as  therefore  providential ;  and  I  knew 
that  if  Providence  set  me  a  task,  he  would  give  me  the 
power  to  perform  it.  So  I  resolved  to  get  well,  and 
you  see  I  have.  As  to  the  rest,  I  knew  that  Avhat 
/  loilled  to  do.  I  could  doT  In  order  to  regain  his 
strength  for  his  new  work,  he  spent  a  part  of  July 
and  August  of  1851  on  Lake  Ontario,  and  the  rest  of 
the  summer  in  charge  of  the  corps  of  cadets  at  the 
Warm  Springs  of  Virginia,  from  which  he  wrote  to 
his  uncle  Alfred  Xeale :  ''  I  have  reported  at  Lexing- 
ton, and  am  delighted  with  my  duties,  the  place,  and 
the  people.  At  present  I  am  with  the  corps  of  cadets 
at  this  place,  where  we  may  remain  until  the  company 
shall  leave,  which  may  be  some  time  hence.  I  recruit- 
ed very  rapidly  at  Lake  Ontario,  where  I  passed  part 
of  July  and  August.  It  would  have  given  me  much 
pleasure  to  have  visited  yoti  during  the  past  summer, 
but  I  am  anxious  to  devote  myself  to  study  until  I 
shall  become  master  of  my  profession." 

In  removing  to  Lexington,  he  found  there  a  number 
of  churches,  and  attended  one  and  another  to  see  which 
he  liked  best.  Up  to  this  time  he  knew  scarcely  any- 
thing of  Presbyterianism.  Here  he  found  that  church 
the  largest  and  most  influential,  embracing  many  of 
the  most  intelligent  families,  although  the  professors 
of  the  Institute  to  which  he  belonged  were  mostly 
Episcopalians.  The  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 
Dr.  William  S.  White,  w^as  a  devout  and  earnest  man 
of  God,  w^hose  kindness  and  aifability  made  him  very 
winning  to  the  young  and  to  strangers.  His  impres- 
sive and  persuasive  style  of  preaching  attracted  and 


58  I'IFE   OF    GENERAL   TilUAlAS    J.  JACKSOX. 

interested  the  new  professor,  who  soon  sought  his  ac- 
quaintance, and  then  his  counsel  in  rehgious  matters. 
The  simplicity  of  the  Presbyterian  form  of  worship 
and  the  preaching  of  her  well-educated  ministry  im- 
pressed him  most  favorably,  and  after  a  careful  study 
of  her  stan(Uirds  of  faith  and  practice  he  gave  his  pref- 
erence to  that  church.  It  has  been  said  that  he  be- 
came a  Presbyterian  by  marriage,  but  this  is  incorrect, 
for  he  had  made  his  choice  of  a  churcli  before  he 
made  choice  of  a  wife,  and  he  was  of  too  independent 
and  inflexible  a  nature  to  be  influenced  even  by  a  wife 
in  so  important  a  decision. 

In  his  frequent  interviews  with  Dr.  White,  the  latter 
became  more  and  more  interested  in  the  earnest,  can- 
did inquirer;  and  although  some  of  his  theories  Avere 
not  in  strict  accord  with  Presbyterianism,  yet  his  pas- 
tor was  so  impressed  with  the  genuineness  of  his  faith 
and  his  extreme  conscientiousness  that  he  did  not  hes- 
itate to  receive  him  to  the  communion.  He  made  a 
j)ubhc  profession  of  his  faith  on  the  22d  of  November, 
1851,  and  became  more  and  more  attached  to  the 
church  of  his  choice  with  the  lapse  of  time ;  his  diffi- 
culties of  doctrinal  belief  all  vanished,  and  he  was  a 
most  loyal  and  devoted  member  and  officer.  But  he 
was  the  furthest  possible  remove  from  being  a  bigot. 
His  views  of  each  denomination  had  been  obtained 
from  itself,  not  from  its  opponents.  Hence  he  could 
see  excellences  in  all..  Even  of  the  Poman  Catholic 
Church  he  had  a  much  more  favorable  impression 
than  most  Protestants,  and  he  fraternized  with  all 
evangelical  denominations.  During  a  visit  to  New 
York  City,  one  Sabbath  morning,  we  chanced  to  find 
<jurselves  at  the  door  of  an  Episcopal  church  at  the 


A  DEACON   IX  THE   CHURCH.  59 

hour  for  worship.  He  proposed  that  we  should  enter ; 
and  as  it  was  a  day  for  the  celebration  of  the  com- 
munion, he  remained  for  that  service,  of  which  he  par- 
took in  the  most  devout  manner.  It  was  with  the 
utmost  reverence  and  solemnity  that  he  walked  up 
the  chancel  and  knelt  to  receive  the  elements.  In  his 
church  at  Lexington  it  has  been  said  that  he  was  an 
elder,  but  he  never  rose  higher  than  a  deacon,  whose 
duties  are  purely  temporal,  to  collect  the  alms  of  the 
church  and  to  distribute  to  the  destitute.  These  hum- 
ble duties  Major  Jackson  discharged  with  scrupulous 
fidelity.  His  pastor  said  he  was  the  best  deacon  in 
the  church.  With  a  soldier's  training  of  obedience  to 
superior  command,  he  followed  out  the  same  principle 
in  his  church  duties,  going  to  his  pastor,  as  his  chief, 
for  his  ''  orders,"  and  "  reporting  "  his  performance  of 
them  in  a  military  way.  He  never  permitted  anything 
to  interfere  with  his  attendance  upon  the  monthly 
meetings  of  deacons;  and  to  a  brother-deacon,  who 
excused  his  absence  by  pleading  that  he  had  not  the 
time  to  attend,  he  said :  "  I  do  not  see  how,  at  that 
hour,  we  can  possibly  lack  time  for  this  meeting,  or 
can  have  time  for  anything  else,  seeing  it  is  set  apart 
for  this  business." 

Between  his  pastor  and  himself  existed  the  most 
confidential  relations,  and  he  consulted  him  as  he 
would  a  father,  regarding  him  as  a  man  of  great 
worldly  wisdom  and  discretion,  as  well  as  a  faithful 
leader  of  his  flock.  "  He  always  acted  on  the  princi- 
ple that  he  was  as  really  bound  to  ^report'  the  condi- 
tion of  himself  and  family  to  his  pastor  as  the  latter 
was  to  minister  to  their  spiritual  wants." 

Few  men  had  such  reverence  for  ministers  of  the 


(JO       I. IKK  OF  GEXERAL  THOMAS  J  JACKSOX. 

gospel,  and  he  often  said  that,  had  his  education  fitted 
him  for  it,  and  had  he  more  of  the  gift  of  speaking, 
he  would  liave  entered  the  pulpit.  In  a  letter  to  his 
aunt,  Mrs.  Neale,  he  said:  ''The  subject  of  becoming 
a  herald  of  the  cross  has  often  serioush^  engaged  my 
attention,  and  I  regard  it  as  the  most  noble  of  all  pro- 
fessions. It  was  the  profession  of  our  divine  Eedeem- 
er.  and  I  should  not  be  surprised  were  I  to  die  upon  a 
foreign  field,  clad  in  ministerial  armor,  fighting  under 
the  banner  of  Jesus.  What  could  be  more  glorious? 
But  my  conviction  is  that  I  am  doing  good  here,  and 
that  for  the  present  I  am  where  God  would  have  me 
be.  AVithin  the  last  few  days  I  have  felt  an  unusual 
religious  ioy.  I  do  rejoice  to  walk  in  the  love  of  God. 
.  .  .  My  Heavenly  Father  has  condescended  to  use  me 
as  an  instrument  in  getting  up  a  large  Sabbath-school 
for  the  negroes  here.  He  has  greatly  blessed  it,  and, 
I  trust,  all  who  are  connected  with  it."  So  scrupulous 
was  he  in  the  performance  of  his  duties  that  he  would 
not  neglect  even  the  smallest,  saying,  "  One  instance 
would  he  a  precedent  for  another,  and  thus  my  rules 
would  be  broken  down."  After  his  conscience  decided 
u})on  questions  of  right  and  wrong,  his  resolution  and 
independence  enabled  him  to  carry  out  his  principles 
with  a  total  disregard  of  the  ojiinions  of  the  world. 
He  thought  it  was  a  great  weakness  in  others  to  care 
what  impression  their  conduct  made  upon  public  opin- 
ion, if  their  consciences  were  only  clear.  The  fear  of 
the  Lord  was  the  only  fear  he  knew\  After  he  be- 
came a  (■hristian  he  set  his  face  against  all  worldly 
confoi'mity,  giving  up  dancing,  theatre-going,  and  ev- 
ery amusement  that  had  a  tendency  to  lead  his  thoughts 
antl  heart  away  from  holy  things.     When  a  question 


PRAYING   IN   PUBLIC.  Ql 

was  raised  as  to  the  right  or  Avrong  of  indulgences  that 
many  consider  innocent,  he  would  say  pleasantly : 
"  Well,  I  know  it  is  not  wrong  not  to  do  it,  so  I'm  go- 
ing to  be  on  the  safe  side."  His  rule  was  never  to 
make  any  compromise  with  his  principles.  But  there 
was  not  a  particle  of  asceticism  or  gloom  in  his  relig- 
ion. It  shed  perpetual  sunshine  upon  his  life,  and  his 
cheerful  serenity  was  like  the  full-flowing  of  a  placid 
stream.  His  faith  and  trust  led  him  to  feel  that  noth- 
ing could  happen  to  him  but  what  was  sent  in  wisdom 
and  love  by  his  Heavenly  Father.  One  of  his  favorite 
texts  of  Scripture  was :  "  We  know  that  all  things  work 
together  for  good  to  them  that  love  God." 

Soon  after  he  united  with  the  church,  his  pastor,  in 
a  public  discourse,  urged  his  flock  to  more  faithfulness 
in  attending  the  weekly  prayer-meeting,  and  enjoined 
upon  the  church  officers  and  members  especially  their 
duty  to  lead  in  prayer.  Hearing  this,  Major  Jackson 
called  to  inquire  if  he  was  among  those  who  were  ad- 
monished not  to  be  deterred  from  their  duty  by  mod- 
esty or  false  shame.  He  said  he  had  not  been  used 
to  public  speaking;  he  was  naturally  diffident,  and 
feared  an  effort  might  prove  anything  but  edifying  to 
the  assembly ;  "  but,"  he  continued,  "  you  are  my  pas- 
tor, and  the  spiritual  guide  of  the  church ;  and  if  ?/ou 
think  it  my  duty,  then  I  shall  waive  my  reluctance  and 
make  the  effort  to  lead  in  prayer,  however  painful  it 
may  be."  Thus  authorized  to  call  upon  him  if  he  thought 
proper,  after  a  time  the  pastor  did  so.  In  responding 
to  the  request,  his  embarrassment  Avas  so  great  that 
the  service  was  almost  as  painful  to  the  audience  as  it 
was  to  himself.  The  call  Avas  not  repeated,  and  after 
waiting  some  weeks,  the  major  again  called  upon  Doc- 


(jO       LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

tor  White  to  know  if  he  had  refrained  from  a  second 
call  from  unwillingness  to  inflict  distress  upon  him 
through  his  extreme  diffidence.  The  good  pastor  was 
obliged  to  admit  that  he  did  shrink  from  requiring  a 
d^ity  of  him  which  was  rendered  at  such  a  sacrifice, 
lest  his  own  enjoyment  of  the  meeting  be  destroyed. 
His  reply  was:  ''Yes,  but  my  comfort  or  discomfort 
is  not  the  question ;  if  it  is  my  duty  to  lead  in  prayer, 
then  I  must  persevere  in  it  until  I  learn  to  do  it  aright ; 
and  I  wish  you  to  discard  all  consideration  for  my 
feelings."  The  next  time  he  was  called  upon  he  suc- 
ceeded better  in  repressing  his  agitation,  and  in  the 
course  of  time  he  was  able  to  pour  out  his  heart  be- 
fore God  with  as  much  freedom  in  the  public  meeting 
as  at  his  own  family  prayers. 

To  improve  himself  in  public  speaking,  he  joined  a 
debating  society  in  Lexington,  called  "  The  Franklin," 
and  his  first  efforts  there  were  on  a  par  with  those  in 
the  Presbyterian  lecture-room ;  but  his  perseverance 
and  determination  overcame  his  difficulties  to  a  great 
extent,  and  he  acquired  considerable  ease  and  fluency 
as  a  speaker. 

A  cong-res-ational  meetino:  of  the  church  was  held 
to  determine  the  best  method  of  increasing  the  rev- 
enue of  the  church.  After  several  speeches,  in  which 
there  was  a  good  deal  of  diversity  of  opinion,  ]\Iajor 
Jackson  rose  quietly,  and  in  a  short  but  stirring  ad- 
dress recalled  the  old  command,  not  "  to  rob  God  in 
tithes  and  offerings,"  emphasizing  the  point  that  {f 
they  did  their  duty  as  church  members  all  their  diffi- 
culties would  come  to  an  end,  with  such  earnest  per- 
suasion as  led  an  eminent  divine  who  was  present  to  re- 
mark, "  Why,  the  major  was  really  eloquent  to-day !" 


ADOPTS  THE  RULE  OF  GIVING  A  TENTH.  03 

In  his  own  giving  for  religious  purposes,  be  adopted 
the  Hebrew  system  of  tithes^  contributing  every  3'ear 
one  tenth  of  his  income  to  the  church.  He  was  a 
liberal  giver  to  all  causes  of  benevolence  and  public 
enterprises,  and  during  the  war  he  gave  bounteously 
of  his  means  to  promote  the  spiritual  interests  of  the 
soldiers. 

During  a  summer  spent  in  the  little  village  of  Bev- 
erly, "West  Yirginia  (the  home  of  his  sister),  he  was 
troubled  to  find  that  there  was  but  little  religious 
influence  in  the  place,  and  that  a  number  of  the  friends 
and  acquaintances  he  made  there  were  professed  infi- 
dels. So  great  was  his  desire  to  convince  them  of 
their  error  and  danger,  that  he  prepared  and  delivered 
a  brief  course  of  lectures  upon  the  evidences  of  Chris- 
tianity. A  military  man  was  not  often  seen  in  that 
remote  region,  and  this  led  him  to  hope  that  some 
might  be  drawn  even  by  curiosity  to  listen  to  some- 
thing from  him  more  favorably  than  from  others, 
thouo^h  it  mio^ht  be  much  inferior.  He  did  succeed  in 
attracting  crowds  of  hearers,  but  the  delivery,  he  said, 
was  one  of  the  greatest  trials  he  had  ever  had. 

In  social  life  Major  Jackson  was  not  what  is  called 
a  '' society  man;"  indeed,  the  very  phrase  seems  an 
incongruity  as  applied  to  him.  But  before  his  mar- 
riage he  mingled  constantly  in  society — punctiliously 
performing  his  part  in  the  courtesies  which  are  due 
from  young  gentlemen — more,  perhaps,  from  a  sense 
of  duty  than  from  inclination.  He  w^as  not  naturally 
social,  but  he  was  a  most  genuine  and  ardent  admirer 
of  true  womanhood ;  and  no  man  was  more  respectful 
and  chivalrous  in  his  bearing  tow^ards  the  gentler  sex. 
He  never  passed  a  woman  either  of  high  or  low  de- 


CJ.       LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

gree,  whether  he  knew  her  or  not,  without  lifting 
his  cap.  and  he  was  never  lacking  in  any  attention  or 
service  that  he  could  render.  AVhen  a  lady  entered 
the  room  he  always  rose  to  his  feet  and  remained 
standing  until  she  was  seated.  But  with  all  his  polite- 
ness and  thorough  breeding,  he  was  so  honest  and 
conscientious  that  he  could  not  indulge  in  tliose  little 
meaningless  flatteries  with  which  young  people  are 
so  prone  to  amuse  themselves ;  hence  he  was  not  so 
popular  in  general  society  as  young  men  who  have 
no  scruples  of  that  sort.  But  he  had  his  friendships 
among  ladies  who  could  appreciate  him,  and  was  a 
frequent  visitor,  delighting  in  throwing  off  restraint 
and  making  himself  very  much  at  home.  In  a  letter 
to  a  friend  he  said :  ''  The  kind  of  friends  to  whom  I 
am  most  attached  are  those  with  whom  I  feel  at  home, 
and  to  whom  I  can  go  at  all  proper  times,  and  infor- 
mally tell  them  the  object  of  my  call,  with  the  assur- 
ance that,  if  practicable,  they  will  join  me  in  carrying 
out  my  plans,  whether  they  are  for  an  evening  prom- 
enade, a  musical  soiree^  or  whatever  they  may  be ;  and 
all  this,  Avithout  the  marred  pleasure  resulting  from  a 
conviction  that  afterwards  all  my  conduct  must  under- 
go a  judicial  investigation  before  '  Judge  Etiquette,' 
and  that  for  every  violation  of  his  code  I  must  be  cen- 
sured, if  not  socially  ostracized." 

A  Southern  lady  thus  describes  the  impression  that 
Major  Jackson  made  upon  her :  ''  There  was  a  pecu- 
liarity about  him  which  at  once  attracted  your  atten- 
tion. Dignified  and  rather  stiff,  as  military  men  are 
apt  to  be,  he  was  as  frank  and  unassuming  as  possible, 
and  was  perfectly  natural  and  unaffected.  He  always 
sat   bolt  upright  in  his  chair,  never  lounged,  never 


A    KXIGHT   OF   THE   ROUND   TABLE.  (55 

crossed  his  legs,  or  made  an  unnecessary  movement. 
The  expression  of  his  soft  gray  eyes  was  gentle,  yet 
commanding,  giving  you  a  delightful  feeling  of  the 
sweetness,  purity,  and  strength  of  his  character.  His 
dress  (in  times  of  peace  at  least)  was  always  in  good 
taste,  and  faultlessly  neat.  Everything  he  wore  was 
of  the  best  material.  'A  thorough  gentleman'  was 
not  exactly  the  expression  to  describe  the  impression 
first  made  upon  you :  it  was  something  more— a  title 
of  greater  distinction  than  this  must  describe  him— 
'  a  modern  knight  of  King  Arthur's  Eound  Table, ' 
would  have  more  properly  conveyed  the  indelible  pict- 
ure he  fixed  upon  your  mind.  IS'othing  unworthy, 
nothing  ignoble,  nothing  of  modern  frivolity  and  little- 
ness—any thoughtful  observer  could  have  seen,  even 
before  the  war,  that  '  Stonewall '  Jackson  was  as  true 
a  hero  as  Bayard,  or  Ealeigh,  or  Sidney." 

The  following  picture  is  one  of  the  best  that  have 
ever  been  drawn,  and  may  well  have  the  merit  of  ac- 
curacy, since  it  is  by  one  who  was  a  constant  observer, 
as  he  was  on  his  staff,  and  thus  a  member  of  his  mili- 
tary family.  It  is  the  Eev.  Dr.  Dabney  who  thus 
sketches  the  figure  of  his  chief  :  ''  His  person  was  tall, 
erect,  and  muscular,  with  the  large  hands  and  feet 
characteristic  of  all  his  race.  His  bearing  was  pecul- 
iarly English;  and  therefore,  in  the  somewhat  free 
society  of  America,  was  regarded  as  constrained.  Ev- 
ery movement  was  quick  and  decisive;  his  articula- 
tion was  rapid,  but  distinct  and  emphatic,  and,  accom- 
panied by  that  laconic  and  perspicuous  phrase  to  which 
it  was  so  well  adapted,  it  often  made  the  impression 
of  curtness.  He  practised  a  mihtary  exactness  in  all 
the  courtesies  of  good  society.     DiflFerent  opinions  ex- 


f\C,  LIKK    OK   CKNKILVL   THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

isted  as  to  his  comeliness,  because  it  varied  so  much 
with  the  condition  of  his  health  and  animal  spirits. 
Ills  brow  was  fair  and  expansive ;  his  eyes  were  blue- 
grav,  large,  and  ex])ressive,  reposing  usually  in  placid 
calm,  but  able  none  the  less  to  flash  lightning.  His 
nose  was  Roman,  and  well  chiselled  ;  his  cheeks  ruddy 
and  sunburnt ;  his  mouth  firm  and  full  of  meaning,  and 
his  chin  covered  with  a  beard  of  comely  brown.  The 
remarkable  characteristic  of  his  face  was  the  contrast 
between  its  sterner  and  its  gentler  moods.  As  he 
accosted  a  friend,  or  dispensed  the  hospitalities  of  his 
own  house,  his  serious,  constrained  look  gave  place  to 
a  smile,  so  sweet  and  sunny  in  its  graciousness  that 
he  was  another  man.  And  if  anything  caused  him  to 
burst  into  a  hearty  laugh,  the  effect  was  a  complete 
metamorphosis.  Then  his  eyes  danced,  and  his  coun- 
tenance rippled  with  a  glee  and  aha?ido?i  literally  in- 
fantile. This  smile  was  indescribable  to  one  who  never 
saw  it.  Had  there  been  a  painter  with  genius  subtile 
enough  to  fix  upon  his  canvas,  side  by  side,  the  spirit 
of  the  countenance  with  which  he  caught  the  sudden 
jest  of  a  child  romping  on  his  knees,  and  with  which, 
in  the  crisis  of  battle,  he  gave  the  sharp  command, 
'  Sweep  the  field  with  the  bayonet  I'  he  would  have  ac- 
complished a  miracle  of  art,  which  the  spectator  could 
scarcely  credit  as  true  to  nature. 

"In  walking,  his  step  was  long  and  rapid,  and  at 
once  suggested  the  idea  of  the  dismounted  horseman. 
It  has  been  said  that  he  was  an  awkward  rider,  but 
incorrectly.  A  sufficient  evidence  of  this  is  the  fact 
that  he  was  never  thrown.  It  is  true  that  on  the 
march,  when  involved  in  thought,  he  was  heedless  of 
the  grace  of  his  posture ;  but  in  action,  as  he  rode 


PERSONAL   APPEARANCE   AND    MANNERS.  67 

with  bare  head  along  his  column,  acknowledging  the 
shouts  which  rent  the  skies,  no  figure  could  be  nobler 
than  his.  His  judgment  of  horses  was  excellent,  and 
it  was  very  rare  that  he  was  not  well  mounted." 

His  passport,  which  he  procured  at  Washington  for 
a  European  trip  in  1S50,  describes  him  thus  :  ''  Stature 
five  feet  nine  and  three-quarter  inches,  English  ;  fore- 
head full;  eyes  gray;  nose  aquiline ;  mouth  small;  chin 
oval ;  hair  dark-brown  ;  face  oval ;  complexion  dark." 

The  last  is  a  mistake,  as  his  complexion  was  nat- 
urally fair,  but  was  very  susceptible  to  sunburn.  A 
lady  who  was  a  relative,  with  whom  he  lived  under  the 
same  roof  several  years,  says  : 

"  He  was  a  man  siii  generis ;  and  none  who  came 
into  close  enough  contact  with  him  to  see  into  his 
inner  nature  were  willing  to  own  that  they  had  ever 
known  just  such  another  man.-'  After  she  was  allowed 
unguarded  insight  into  ''the  very  pulse  of  the  ma- 
chine," she  recalls  the  incredulity  with  which  her 
declaration  that  Jackson  was  the  very  stuff  out  of 
which  to  make  a  hero  was  received,  before  any  sword 
was  lifted  in  the  contest. 

She  describes  him  upon  his  first  entrance  into  Lex- 
ington society  as  "  of  a  tall,  very  erect  figure,  with  a 
military  precision  about  him  which  made  him  appear 
stiff,  but  he  was  one  of  the  most  polite  and  courteous 
of  men.  He  had  a  handsome,  animated  face,  flashing 
blue-o-rav  eves,  and  the  most  mobile  of  mouths.  He 
was  voted  eccentric  in  our  little  professional  circle, 
because  he  did  not  walk  in  the  same  conventional 
grooves  as  other  men  :  it  was  only  when  we  came  to 
know  him  with  the  intimacy  of  hourly  converse  that 


gg  LIKK    (H     GENERAL    THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 

we  found  that  much  that  passed  under  the  name  of 
eccentricity  was  the  result  of  the  deepest  underlying 
principle,  and  compelled  a  respect  which  we   dared 
not    withhold.     After  he    became  an   inmate  of   our 
household,  we  were  not  long  in  discovering  that  the 
more  rigidly  and  narrowly  his  springs  of  action  were 
scrutinized,  the  higher  rose  our  respect  and  reverence. 
What  may  have  provoked  a  smile  when  the  motive 
or  i)rinciple  that  lay  behind  the  act  was  entirely  mis- 
apprehended came  to  be  regarded  with  a  certain  ad- 
mii'ing  wonder  when  the  motive  of  the  act  was  made 
clear.     We  sometimes  used  to  charge  him  with  losing 
sight  of  the  perspective  of  things.     Not  drawing  the 
distinction  that  men  generally  do  between  small  and 
great,  he  laid  as  much  stress  upon  truth  in  the  most 
insignificant  words  or  actions  of  his  dail}'  life  as  in. 
the  most   solemn   and   important.      He  weighed  his 
liofhtest  utterances  in  '  the  balances  of  the  sanctuarv.' 
When  it  would  be  playfully  represented  to  him  that 
this  needless  precision  interfered  with  the  graces  of 
conversation,  and  tended  to  give  angularity  and  stiff- 
ness to  his  style,  his  reply  would  he  that  he  vras  per- 
fectly aware  of  the  inelegance  it  involved,  but  he  chose 
to  sacrifice  all  minor  charms  to  the  paramount  one  of 
absolute  truth."' 


His  crystalline  truthfulness  was  equally  noticeable 
in  admitting  that  he  did  vot  I'now  facts  or  things, 
when  really  there  was  no  appeal  made  to  his  knowl- 
edge except  tlie  common  "you  know,''  witli  wliich  so 
many  interlard  their  conversation.  "  Xothing.'"  he 
said.  •*  would  induce  him  to  make  the  impression  that 
he  knew  what  he  did  not." 


EXTREME   CONSCIENTIOUSNESS.  69 

So  in  conversation,  if  he  unintentionally  made  a 
misstatement  about  a  matter  of  no  moment  whatever, 
as  soon  as  he  discovered  his  mistake,  he  would  lose 
no  time  in  hastening  to  correct  it,  even  if  he  had  to 
go  upon  the  mission  in  a  pouring  rain.  Upon  being 
asked,  "  Why,  in  the  name  of  reason,  do  you  walk  a 
mile  in  the  rain  for  a  perfectly  unimportant  thing  ^ 
his  reply  was,  "  Simply  because  I  have  discovered 
that  it  was  a  misstatement,  and  I  could  not  sleep  com- 
fortably to-night  unless  I  corrected  it." 

His  ideas  of  honesty  were  just  as  rigid.  An  in- 
stance soon  after  our  marriage  will  show  this.  One 
autumn  afternoon  we  were  taking  a  stroll,  and  passing 
a  large  apple  orchard  where  the  ripe  fruit  had  fallen 
plentifully  upon  the  ground,  I  asked  him  to  step  over 
the  fence  and  treat  ourselves  to  some  of  the  tempting 
apples.  My  rebuke  can  be  imagined  when  in  the  kind- 
est manner  he  answered:  "]^o,  I  do  not  think  it 
would  be  right  to  do  that.     I  am  sure  that  Colonel 

E would  have  no  objection,  and   would  gladly 

give  them  to  us  if  he  were  here,  but  I  cannot  take 
them  without  his  leave." 

No  man  carried  his  conscientiousness  to  a  greater 
extreme,  and  many  may  say  that  he  did  it  to  an  un- 
necessary and  even  morbid  degree  ;  but  his  humility 
was  as  pre-eminent  as  his  conscientiousness,  and  al- 
though he  laid  down  these  stringent  rules  for  his  own 
governance,  he  did  not  set  himself  up  as  a  guide  or 
model  for  others,  and  never  forced  his  convictions 
upon  any  one.  He  never  even  inadvertently  fell  into 
the  use  of  the  expressions  so  common  upon  our  lips 
that  he  "  wished  that  any  event  or  circumstance  were 
different  from  what  it  was."     To  do  so  would,  in  his 


70  LIFE   OF   GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

opinion,  have  been  to  arraign  Providence.  He  was 
utterly  free  from  censoriousness,  envy,  detraction,  and 
all  uncharitableness,  and  certainly  kept  his  rule  that 
if  he  could  say  nothing  good  of  a  man,  he  would  not 
speak  of  him  at  all. 

Bin  if  he  once  lost  confidence,  or  discovered  decep- 
tion and  fraud  on  the  part  of  one  whom  he  had  trust- 
ed, his  faith  was  not  easily  restored,  and  he  with- 
drew himself  as  much  as  possible  from  any  further 
dealings  with  him.  However,  he  religiously  kept  the 
door  of  his  lips,  not  permitting  a  word  of  censure  or 
denunciation  to  pass  them  ;  and  even  when  convinced 
that  a  man  was  a  hypocrite,  his  severest  sentence 
asrainst  him  was  that  he  believed  him  to  be  a  "  de- 
ceived  man,"  who  was  so  blinded  that  he  could  not 
see  the  error  of  his  ways. 

..."  Only  in  the  innermost  circle  of  home  did 
any  one  come  to  know  what  Jackson  really  was. 
.  .  .  His  natural  temperament  was  extremely  buoy- 
ant, and  his  ahandon  was  beautiful  to  see,  provided 
there  were  only  one  or  two  people  to  see  it." 

As  may  be  supposed,  punctuality  was  regarded  by 
him  as  a  virtue:  "  Xo  one  could  ever  charge  him 
^vitll  loss  of  time  through  dilatoriness  on  his  part. 
He  never  failed  to  fill  an  engagement ;  or,  if  it  was  im- 
possible for  him  to  do  so,  he  would  take  any  amount 
of  ti'oiible  to  give  notice  beforehand  of  his  inabilit}^ 
to  kee])  it.  .  .  .  Once  only  do  I  remember  that  he 
was  late  in  getting  to  prayer  -  meeting,  for  he  was 
as  punctual  as  a  clock  in  being  in  his  seat  before  the 
o])ening  of  the  services  of  the  church.  On  this  oc- 
casion, when  he  found  that  the  worship  had  com- 
menced (although  we  were  only  a  few  minutes  be- 


"I   HAVE   NO   GENIUS   FOR  SEEMING."  71 

hind  time),  he  declined  to  enter,  saying  we  had  no 
right  to  disturb  the  devotions  of  others  by  going  in 
daring  the  service,  and  so  we  returned  home. 

"  His  personal  habits  w^ere  systematic  in  the  ex- 
treme, lie  studied  his  physical  nature  with  a  physi- 
cian's scrutiny ;  and  having  once  adopted  a  regimen 
which  he  believed  perfectly  suited  to  himself,  nothing 
would  ever  tempt  him  to  swerve  in  the  slightest  de- 
gree from  it.  He  ate,  as  he  did  everything  else,  from 
a  sense  of  duty."  He  had  suffered  much  from  dys- 
pepsia, and  for  that  reason  had  to  practise  absolute 
control  over  his  appetite,  and  nothing  could  tempt 
him  to  partake  of  food  between  his  regular  hours. 
"  When  sometimes  at  parties  and  receptions  a  friend 
would  entreat  him,  for  courtesy's  sake  and  the  gratifi- 
cation of  his  hostess,  to  seem  to  accept  some  delicacy, 
or  at  least  venture  upon  a  grape  or  an  orange,  he 
would  always  reply  :  "  No,  no ;  I  have  no  genius  for 
seeyningP 

In  all  the  means  that  he  sought  for  relief  in  sub- 
duing his  arch-enemy,  dyspepsia,  he  found  none  that 
proved  so  beneficial  as  the  hydropathic  treatment. 
He  became  a  strong  believer  in  the  system,  and  dur- 
ing his  summer  vacation  he  visited  several  hydro- 
pathic establishments  in  New  York  and  New  Eng- 
land, and  invariably  gained  strength  from  the  baths 
and  the  exercise.  One  summer  his  chest  broadened 
several  inches  b\^  his  performances  in  the  gymnasium, 
and  on  his  return  home  he  found  his  double-breasted 
coat  (a  major's  uniform)  incapable  of  accommodating 
his  increased  dimensions,  so  he  had  to  have  a  new 
one  made.  He  always  wore  citizen's  dress  when  ofi" 
dutv. 


72  LIFE  OF  GENERAL   THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 

When  he  had  a  home  of  his  own,  he  provided  himself 
with  some  of  his  favorite  apphances  for  gymnastic 
exercises,  and  greatly  invigorated  himself  by  their  use. 

He  abstained  from  the  use  of  all  intoxicating  drinks 
from  principle,  having  a  fondness  for  them,  as  he  him- 
self confessed,  and  for  that  reason  never  daring  to  in- 
dulge his  taste.  During  the  Avar,  when  asked  by  a 
brother  officer  to  join  him  in  a  social  glass,  he  replied  : 
"  Xo,  I  thank  you,  but  I  never  use  it ;  I  am  more  afraid 
of  it  than  of  Federal  bullets."  Xor  did  he  use  tobacco 
in  any  form,  and  for  many  years  not  even  tea  and 
coffee,  believing  that  they  w.ere  injurious  to  his  health. 

When  persons  about  him  complained  of  headaches 
or  other  consequences  of  imprudence,  he  would  say : 
"  If  you  follow  my  rule,  Avhich  is  to  govern  yourself 
absolutely,  I  do  not  think  you  would  have  these 
sufferings.  My  head  never  aches  :  if  anytliing  dis- 
airrees  with  me,  I  never  eat  it." 

As  an  instance  of  the  alacrity  with  Avhich,  if  once 
convinced  that  a  thing  was  right  to  do,  he  did  it,  on 
one  occasion,  when  he  had  been  talking  of  self-abne- 
gation and  making  rather  light  of  it,  a  friend  sug- 
gested that  he  had  not  been  called  upon  to  endure  it, 
and  sup])osed  a  case  :  "  Imagine  that  the  providence 
of  God  seemed  to  direct  you  to  drop  every  scheme  of 
life  and  of  personal  advancement,  and  go  on  a  mission 
to  the  heart  of  Africa  for  the  rest  of  your  days, 
would  you  go  r'  His  eyes  flashed  as  he  instantly  re- 
plied :   "  I  would  go  xoithout  my  hat  /" 

This  same  friend  once  asked  him  what  wa?^  his  un- 
derstanding of  the  Bible  command  to  be  ''  instant  in 
prayer  "  and  to  "  pray  without  ceasing."  "  I  can  give 
you,"  he  said,  ''  my  idea  of  it  by  illustration,  if  you 


PRAYER   WITHOUT   CEASING.  Y3 

will  allow  it,  and  will  not  think  that  I  am  setting 
myself  up  as  a  model  for  others.  I  have  so  fixed  the 
habit  in  my  own  mind  that  I  never  raise  a  glass  of 
water  to  my  lips  without  lifting  my  heart  to  God  in 
thanks  and  [)rayer  for  the  water  of  life.  Then,  when 
we  take  our  meals,  there  is  the  grace.  Whenever  1 
drop  a  letter  in  the  post-office,  I  send  a  petition  along 
with  it  for  God's  blessing  upon  its  mission  and  the 
person  to  whom  it  is  sent.  When  I  break  the  seal  of 
a  letter  just  received,  I  stop  to  ask  God  to  prepare  me 
for  its  contents,  and  make  it  a  messenger  of  good. 
When  I  go  to  my  class-room  and  await  the  arrange- 
ment of  the  cadets  in  their  places,  that  is  my  time  to 
intercede  with  God  for  them.  And  so  in  every  act  of 
the  day  I  have  made  the  practice  habitual." 

"  And  don't  you  sometimes  forget  to  do  this  ?" 
asked  his  friend. 

"  I  can  hardly  say  that  I  do ;  the  habit  has  become 
almost  as  fixed  as  to  breathe." 

His  submission  to  his  Heavenly  Father's  Avill  was 
so  perfect,  and  the  assurance  that  "  all  things  work 
together  for  good  to  them  that  love  God  "  Avas  to  him 
such  a  blessed  reality,  that  he  always  said  he  pre- 
ferred God's  will  to  his  own ;  and  his  perfect  assur- 
ance of  faith  never  forsook  him,  however  severely  it 
might  be  tried.  "  He  used  to  express  surprise  at  the 
want  of  equanimity  on  the  part  of  Christians  under 
the  pressure  of  untoward  circumstances;  and  remarked 
that  he  did  not  think  any  combination  of  earthly  ills 
could  make  him  positively  unhappy  if  he  believed  he 
was  suffering  the  will  of  God."  Thinking  this  a  bold 
assertion,  a  friend  ventured  to  touch  him  m  a  vulner- 
able pomt,  knowing  tliat  his  health  was  a  source  of 


74:       LIFE  OF  GENKRAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

anxious  care,  and  asked  him :    '^  Major,  suppose  you 
should  lose  your  health  irreparably;  do  you  think  you 
could  be  liai>py  still  r     He  answered  :  "  Yes,  I  should 
])e  ha]»i)v  stili."     ''Well,  suppose,  in  addition  to  life- 
lono-  illness,  you  should  become  suddenly  blind;  do 
vou  believe  your  serenity  would  remain  unclouded  ?" 
He  paused  a  moment,  as  if  to  weigh  fully  every  word 
he  uttered,  and  then  said  :  "  I  am  sure  of  it ;  even  such 
a  misfortune  could  not  make  me  doubt  the  love  of 
God."     Still  further  to  test  him,  and   knowing  his 
impatience  of  anything  that  even  bordered  on  de- 
pendence, it  was  urged :  "  But  if,  in  addition  to  blind- 
ness antl  incurable  infirmity  and  pain,  you  had  to  re- 
ceive grudging  charity  from  those  on  ^vhom  you  had 
no  claim— what  then  ?"    There  was  a  strange  rever- 
ence in  his  lifted  eye,  and  an  exalted  expression  over 
his  whole  face,  as  he  replied,  with  slow  deliberateness : 
"  n  it  were  God's  will,  I  think  1  could  lie  there  content 
a  hundred  years  P^ 

General  Jackson's  extreme  rigor  in  the  observance 
of  the  Sabbath  has  been  much  commented  on,  and  he 
has  been  called  a  religious  fanatic.  Certainly  he 
was  not  less  scrupulous  in  obeying  the  divine  com- 
mand to  '•  remember  the  Sabbath  day  to  keep  it  holy  " 
than  he  was  in  any  other  rule  of  his  life.  Since  the 
Creator  had  set  apart  this  day  for  his  own,  and 
commanded  it  to  be  kept  holy,  he  believed  that  it 
was  as  wrong  for  him  to  desecrate  it  by  worldly  pleas- 
ure, idleness,  or  secular  employment,  as  to  break  any 
other  commandment  of  the  decalogue.  Sunday  was 
Ills  busiest  (lay  of  the  week,  as  he  always  attend- 
ed church  twice  a  day  and  taught  in  two  Sabbath 
schools!     He  refrained  as  much  as  possible  from  all 


STRICT   OBSERVANCE   OF   THE  SABBATH.  75 

worldly  conversation,  and  in  his  family,  if  seculai* 
topics  were  introduced,  he  would  say,  with  a  kindly 
smile,  ''  We  will  talk  about  that  to-morrow." 

He  never  travelled  on  Sunday,  never  took  his  mail 
from  the  post-office,  nor  permitted  a  letter  of  his  own 
to  travel  on  that  day,  always  before  posting  it  calcu- 
lating the  time  it  required  to  reach  its  destination ; 
and  even  business  letters  of  the  utmost  importance 
were  never  sent  off  the  very  last  of  the  week,  but  were 
kept  over  until  Monday  morning,  unless  it  was  a  case 
where  distance  required  a  longer  time  than  a  week. 

One  so  strict  in  his  own  Sabbath  observance  natu- 
rally believed  that  it  was  wrong  for  the  government 
to  carry  the  mails  on  Sunday.  Any  organization  which 
exacted  secular  labor  of  its  employees  on  the  Lord's 
day  was,  in  his  opinion,  a  violator  of  God's  law.  Just 
before  his  last  battle  he  wrote  the  following  letter, 
touching  upon  this  matter,  to  his  friend  Colonel  J. 
T.  L.  Preston : 

"Near  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  April  27th,  18G3. 
"  Dear  Colonel, — I  am  much  gratified  to  see  that 
you  are  one  of  the  delegates  to  the  General  Assembly 
of  our  Church,  and  I  write  to  express  the  hope  that 
something  may  be  accomplished  by  you  at  the  meet- 
ing of  that  influential  body  towards  repealing  the  law 
requiring  our  mails  to  be  carried  on  the  Christian  Sab- 
bath. Recently  I  received  a  letter  from  a  member  of 
Congress  (the  Confederate  Congress  at  Richmond) 
expressing  the  hope  that  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives would  act  upon  the  subject  during  its  present 
session ;  and  from  the  mention  made  of  Colonel  Chil- 
ton and  Mr.  Curry  of  Alabama,  I  infer  that  they  are 


y(j  LIIK    OF  (iENEKAL   TlJo.MAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

membei*s  of  the  committee  which  recommends  the 
repeiil  of  the  law.  A  few  days  since  I  received  a 
very  gratifying  letter  from  ^Mr.  Cuny,  which  was  vol- 
untary on  his  part,  as  I  was  a  stranger  to  him,  and 
there  had  been  no  previous  correspondence  between 
us.  11  is  letter  is  of  a  cheering  character,  and  he  takes 
occasion  to  say  that  divine  laws  can  be  violated  with 
impunity  neither  by  governments  nor  individuals.  I 
reirret  to  sav  that  he  is  fearful  tiiat  the  anxietv  of  mem- 
bers  to  return  home,  and  the  press  of  other  business, 
will  prevent  the  desired  action  this  session.  I  have 
said  thus  much  in  order  that  you  may  see  that  Con- 
gressional action  is  to  be  looked  for  at  the  next  meet- 
ing of  Congress;  hence  the  importance  that  Chris- 
tians act  ])romptly,  so  that  our  legislators  may  see  the 
current  opinion  before  they  take  up  the  subject.  I 
hope  and  pra}"  that  such  may  be  our  country's  senti- 
ment upon  this  and  kindred  subjects  that  our  states- 
men will  see  their  way  clearly.  Xow  appears  to  me 
an  auspicious  time  for  action,  as  our  people  are  look- 
ing to  God  for  assistance.     Very  trulv  3^oar  friend, 

''  T.  J.  Jackson." 

In  another  letter  to  his  pastor  he  says :  ''  It  is  de- 
lightful to  see  the  Congressional  Committee  report  so 
stnjngly  against  Sabbath  mails.  I  trust  that  you  will 
write  to  every  member  of  Congress  with  whom  you 
have  any  influence,  and  do  all  you  can  to  procure  the 
ado])tion  of  the  report.  And  please  request  those  with 
whom  you  correspond  (when  expedient)  to  do  the  same. 
I  beheve  that  (lod  will  bless  us  with  success  if  Cliris- 
tians  will  but  do  their  duty.  For  nearly  fifteen  years 
Sabbath   nuuls   have    been,  througli   God's   blessing, 


HE  WOULD  NUT  BREAK  THE  SEAL.        77 

avoided  by  me,  and  I  am  thankful  to  say  that  in  no 
instance  has  there  been  occasion  for  regret,  but,  on  the 
contrary,  God  has  made  it  a  source  of  pure  enjoyment 
to  me." 

For  a  long  time  he  kept  his  resolution  not  to  use 
his  eyes  b\^  artificial  light ;  and  it  was  his  custom  never 
to  break  the  seal  of  a  letter  which  came  to  him  late 
on  Saturday  night  until  the  dawn  of  Monday  morn- 
ing. When  he  became  engaged,  and  his  Jiancee  lived  in 
another  State,  it  was  a  subject  of  amusing  speculation 
among  his  friends  whether  he  would  break  this  rule. 
But  it  was  found  that  even  to  the  excuse  "  The  wom- 
an tempted  me  "  he  did  not  yield.  A  friend  in  walk- 
ing to  church  with  him  one  Sunday  morning,  know- 
ing he  had  received  a  letter  the  evening  before,  said 
to  him :  "  Major,  surely  you  have  read  j^our  letter  ?" 
'-  Assuredly  not,"  said  he.  "  Where  is  it  ?"  asked  his 
friend.  "Here,"  tapping  his  coat -pocket.  "AYhat 
obstinacy  !"  exclaimed  his  companion.  "  Don't  you 
know  that  your  curiosity  to  learn  its  contents  will  dis- 
tract your  attention  from  divine  worship  far  more  than 
if  you  had  read  it  ?  Surely,  in  this  case,  to  depart 
from  your  rule  would  promote  a  true  Sabbath  observ- 
ance, instead  of  injuring  it."  "  No,"  he  answered,  qui- 
etly, "  I  shall  make  the  most  faithful  effort  I  can  to 
govern  my  thoughts  and  guard  them  from  unnecessary 
distraction ;  and  as  I  do  this  from  a  sense  of  duty,  I 
expect  the  divine  blessing  upon  it."  He  said  after- 
wards that  his  tranquillity  and  spiritual  enjoyment 
were  unusually  great  during  the  day. 

In  the  autumn  of  1855,  he  organized  his  Sabbath- 
school  for  the  instruction  of  the  colored  people  of  Lex- 
ington.    His  interest  in  that  race  was  simply  because 


78      LIFE  OF  GEKERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

they  had  souls  to  save ;  and  he  continued  to  instruct 
them  with  great  faithfulness  and  success  up  to  the 
breaking-out  of  the  war.  In  this  missionary  work  he 
was  assisted  by  a  number  of  ladies  and  gentlemen. 
This  school  was  held  in  the  afternoon  of  the  Sabbath ; 
its  sessions  were  short  and  spirited,  and  he  soon  in- 
fused interest  and  punctuality  into  both  teachers  and 
ini])ils.  Upon  my  removal  to  Lexington  I  proposed 
takino-  a  class  in  the  Sunday-school  for  white  chil- 
dren, but  he  preferred  that  my  labors  should  be  given 
to  the  colored  children,  believing  it  was  more  impor- 
tant and  useful  to  put  the  strong  hand  of  the  Gospel 
under  the  ignorant  African  race,  to  lift  them  up.  I 
have  always  felt  thankful  that  his  wishes  guided  me 
in  this  matter,  for  it  was  a  privilege  to  witness  his 
great  interest  and  zeal  in  the  work,  and  never  did  his 
face  beam  with  more  intelligence  and  earnestness  than 
when  he  was  telling  the  colored  children  of  his  Sab- 
bath-school the  story  of  the  cross. 

When  in  the  army  he  inquired  of  every  visitor  from 
the  church  to  his  camp  how  his  colored  Sunday-school 
was  getting  on,  and  expressed  great  satisfaction  at 
hearing  of  its  prosperity.  This  school  is  still  in  suc- 
cessful operation. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  White  said  he  was  once  both  gratified 
and  amused  when  Major  Jackson  came  to  him  to  re- 
port the  result  of  a  collection  which  he  had  made  in 
the  congregation  for  the  Bible  Society.  At  the  foot 
of  the  long  list  of  the  church-members  and  other  citi- 
zens were  a  number  of  additional  names  in  pencil- 
marks  with  small  sums  attached  to  them.  Upon  in- 
(^uiring  who  they  were,  the  major  explained  :  '*  These 
at  the  top  are  your  regulars,  and  those  below  are  my 


A   BELOVED   CHRISTIAN   FRIEND.  Y9 

militia."  In  bis  round  of  visiting,  he  had  called  u})on 
some  of  his  colored  friends,  and  encouraged  them  to 
give,  even  if  it  were  but  a  mite,  to  this  good  cause,  ar- 
guing that  their  money  was  more  profitably  spent  in 
this  way  than  in  tobacco  and  whiskey,  and  that  it 
would  elevate  them,  and  increase  their  interest  in  the 
study  of  the  Bible.  This  activity  for  the  good  of  oth- 
ers brought  its  own  reward.  This  man,  so  busy  in 
good  works,  his  pastor  said,  ''  was  the  happiest  man 
he  ever  knew."  His  faith  and  trust  were  so  implicit 
that  his  own  will  was  in  perfect  subjection  to  that  of 
his  Heavenly  Father,  and  no  suffering  or  trial  could 
make  him  wish  it  had  been  otherwise. 

The  story  of  Major  Jackson's  life  in  Lexington  would 
be  lacking  in  one  important  link  of  the  chain  without 
the  mention  of  his  dear  and  honored  Christian  friend, 
Mr.  John  B.  Lyle,  to  whom  he  was  more  indebted  for 
spiritual  profit  than  to  any  one  else  except  his  pastor. 
This  gentleman  was  an  elder  of  the  church,  a  bachelor, 
past  middle-age,  and  not  prosperous,  as  the  world  goes, 
but  he  was  one  of  those  whole-souled,  large-hearted 
Christians  whose  lives  are  full  of  love  and  sunshine. 
His  genial  face  and  ready  sympathy  made  him  a  great 
favorite  with  young  and  old,  and  he  was  known  as  the 
comforter  of  the  afflicted,  the  restorer  of  the  wayward, 
and  the  counsellor  of  the  doubting.  Indeed,  his  heart 
was  big  enough  to  take  in  all  who  sought  a  place  there. 
The  young  ladies  made  a  special  pet  of  him,  and  he 
was  generally  the  confidant  and  adviser  of  his  numer- 
ous friends,  both  in  temporal  and  spiritual  matters. 
He  was  fond  of  music,  and  led  the  church  choir.  The 
church  at  that  time  had  no  organ,  but  his  magnificent 
voice  ^vas  almost  equal  to  an  organ  itself.     Major  Jack- 


go       LIKE  OF   GEXERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

son  rarely  passed  a  day  without  a  visit  to  Mr.  Lyle's 
sanctum,  and  thus,  coming  under  the  constant  influ- 
ence of  one  whose  inner  Christian  hfe  was  as  elevated 
as  his  outward  was  active,  his  own  religious  character 
became  moulded  into  that  exalted  type  for  which  he 
was  so  consi)icuous.  It  was  largely  due  to  Mr.  Lyle's 
guidance  in  religious  reading,  his  own  bright  example 
and  instructions,  that  Major  Jackson  attained  that 
perfect  assurance  of  faith,  which  shed  such  sunshine 
over  his  latter  years.  He  also  taught  him  to  cherish 
a  high  sense  of  the  value  of  prayer,  and  to  expect  an 
answer  to  it.  In  taking  a  journey,  he  never  parted 
from  his  wife  without  engaging  in  prayer ;  before  go^ 
ing  to  his  Sabbath-schools  he  always  knelt  in  prayer, 
and  so,  in  every  act  of  life,  "prayer  was  his  vital 
breath.'' 

The  first  visit  that  my  husband  took  me  to  pay  af- 
ter my  arrival  at  my  new  home  was  to  his  friend,  Mr. 
Lyle,  and  his  smiling  and  hearty  ''  welcome  to  Lexing- 
ton "  went  directly  to  the  heart  of  the  stranger.  He 
was  then  a  partial  paralytic,  and  it  was  not  many 
months  until  a  final  stroke  removed  him  to  a  better 
world.  As  an  evidence  of  the  strong  hold  he  had  on 
the  hearts  of  all  who  knew  him,  one  who  was  not  con- 
nected with  him  by  any  tie  of  blood  had  him  buried 
in  his  own  family  lot  in  the  cemetery,  and  marked  the 
spot  by  a  monument  bearing  this  inscription :  "  He 
was  the  truest  friend,  the  bravest  man,  and  the  best 
Christian  ever  known  to  him  who  erects  this  stone  to 
his  memory." 

The  name  of  Dr.  White,  the  good  pastor,  and  his 
faithful  under -shepherd,  John  B.  Lyle,  will  long  be 
fragrant  memories  in  Lexington. 


CHAPTER  YI. 

THE   PROFESSOR.— TRIP   TO   EUROPE.— 1851-1856. 

Major  Jackson  had  never  been  a  teacher  before  he 
became  a  professor  in  the  Virginia  Military  Institute, 
and  when  asked  by  a  friend  whether  he  did  not  feel  dis- 
trustful of  himself  in  undertaking  so  untried  and  ar- 
duous a  course  of  instruction,  he  replied:  ''jS'o:  I 
expect  to  be  able  to  study  sufficiently  in  advance  of 
my  classes ;  for  one  can  always  do  ivhat  he  vnlU  to  ac- 
romplish.^^ 

In  this  spirit  he  entered  on  his  duties  as  a  teacher,  and 
discharged  them  with  the  same  painstaking  fidelity 
that  he  did  everything  else  he  undertook  in  life.  His 
extreme  conscientiousness  constrained  him  to  carry 
out  to  the  very  letter  all  the  regulations  of  the  school, 
and  when  he  came  into  conflict  either  with  superiors 
or  inferiors,  it  was  because  they  were  disposed  to  prac- 
tise more  policy  and  expediency  than  the  rules  pre- 
scribed. But  we  will  let  some  of  his  colleagues  in  of- 
fice, and  his  friends  in  Lexington  and  elsewhere,  give 
their  testimony  to  his  character  as  a  teacher  and  an 
officer.  The  superintendent  of  the  Institute,  General 
Francis  H.  Smith,  says :  '*  The  professorial  career  of 
Major  Jackson  was  marked  by  great  faithfulness,  and 
by  an  unobtrusive  yet  earnest  spirit.  With  high  men- 
tal endowments,  teachinrj  was  a  new  profession  to  him. 


32  Llt^E   ^^^^   (JF.NERAL   TllUMAS   J.  JACKSON. 

and  deinaiuled,  in  the  important  department  assigned 
him,  an  amount  of  labor  which,  from  the  state  of  his 
health,  and  especially  from  the  weakness  of  his  eyes, 
he  })erformed  at  great  sacrifice.  Conscientious  fidelity 
to  duty  marked  every  step  of  his  life  here,  and  Avhen 
called  to  active  duty  in  the  field  he  had  made  consider- 
able progress  in  the  preparation  of  an  elementar}^  work 
on  optics,  which  he  proposed  to  publish  for  the  benefit 
of  his  classes.  Strict,  and  at  times  stern,  in  his  disci- 
pline (though  ever  polite  and  kind),  he  was  not  always 
a  ])<)])ular  professor;  but  no  one  ever  possessed  in  a 
higher  degree  tlie  confidence  and  respect  of  tlie  cadets, 
for  his  unbending  integrity  and  fearlessness  in  the  dis- 
charge of  duty.  If  he  were  exact  in  his  demands  upon 
them,  they  knew  he  was  no  less  so  in  his  own  respect 
for  and  submission  to  authority.  His  great  principle 
of  government  was  that  a  general  rule  should  not  be 
violated  for  any  particular  good ;  and  his  animating 
rule  of  action  was,  that  a  man  could  accomplish  what 
he  willed  to  perform.  For  ten  years  he  prosecuted  his 
unwearied  labors  as  a  professor,  making  during  that 
period,  in  no  questionable  form,  such  an  i/njjress  upon 
those  who,  from  time  to  time,  were  under  his  command, 
that  when  the  war  broke  out  the  spontaneous  senti- 
ment of  every  cadet  and  graduate  was  to  serve  under 
him  as  their  leader. 

••  The  habit  of  mind  of  Major  Jackson,  long  before  he 
made  a  ])ublic  profession  of  religion,  was  reverential. 
Devoutly  recognizing  the  authority  of  God,  submis- 
sion to  11  ill!  as  his  Divine  Teacher  and  Guide  soon 
matured  into  a  confession  of  faith  in  him,  and  from 
that  moment  the  'triple  cord' — 'not  slothful  in  busi- 
ness, fervent  in  spirit,  serving  the  Lord' — bound  him 


THE   DEATH   OF   HIS   FIRST   WIFE.  83 

in  simple  and  trustful  obedience  to  liis  Divine  Mas- 
ter/' 

In  the  third  year  of  Major  Jackson's  professorship 
in  the  Military  Institute  a  vacancy  occurred  in  the 
Chair  of  Mathematics  at  the  University  of  Virginia 
by  the  death  of  Professor  Courtenay,  and  he  Avas  high- 
ly recommended  by  General  Lee  and  others  for  the 
position,  but,  as  was  quite  natural,  the  directors  pre- 
ferred an  alumnus  of  the  University,  and  so  elected 
Professor  Bledsoe,  an  older  and  more  experienced 
teacher.  In  the  end  it  proved  better  that  Major  Jack- 
son remained  at  Lexington. 

Major  Jackson  was  twice  married — the  first  time  in 
1853,  August  4th,  to  Elinor,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
George  Junkin,  President  of  Washington  College, 
who  is  remembered  by  all  who  knew  her  as  a  person 
of  singular  loveliness  of  character;  as  possessed  of 
great  natural  intelligence,  which  Avas  developed  in  a 
family  of  high  cultivation ;  while  her  native  modesty 
and  conscientiousness  ripened,  under  parental  culture, 
into  a  beautiful  type  of  Christian  womanhood.  Thus 
she  had  every  qualification  to  make  a  happy  home. 
But  this  happiness  was  not  to  be  of  long  duration. 
About  fourteen  months  after  the  marriage,  in  giving 
birth  to  a  child,  that  never  breathed,  the  mother  died 
also,  so  that  all  that  was  dearest  to  him  on  earth  was 
laid  in  the  grave.  This  was  a  terrible  blow,  for  he  was 
a  devoted  husband ;  and  his  early  life  having  been  so 
isolated  from  home  influences,  family  ties  were  more 
to  him  than  to  most  persons.  But  his  resignation  to 
God's  will  was  unshaken,  and  his  Christian  character 
became  more  mellowed  and  consecrated  by  this  sad 
bereavement. 


S4       LIFE  UK  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

A  few  extracts  from  his  letters  to  his  aunt,  Mrs. 
Xeale,  will  show  the  spirit  in  which  he  bore  his  afflic- 
tion: 

''February  16th,  1855. 

''  Your  kind  letter,  so  full  of  sympathy  and  love, 
made  a  dee})  impression  on  my  stricken  heart.  I  can 
liardly  realize  yet  that  my  dear  EUie  is  no  more — that 
she  Avill  never  again  Avelcome  my  return — no  more 
soothe  my  troubled  spirit  by  her  ever  kind,  sympa- 
thizing heart,  words,  and  love.  .  .  .  She  has  left  me 
such  monuments  of  her  love  to  God,  and  deep  depend- 
ence upon  her  Saviours  merits,  that  were  I  not  to  be- 
lieve in  her  happiness,  neither  Avould  I  believe  though 
one  were  to  rise  from  the  dead  and  declare  it.  God's 
prcmiises  change  not.  She  w^as  a  child  of  God,  and 
as  such  she  is  enjoying  Him  forever.  ...  I  have 
sutTered  so  mucli  with  my  eyes  lateh^  that  1  have  had 
great  fears  that  I  might  lose  them  entirely,  but  all 
things  are  in  the  hands  of  a.  merciful  Father,  and 
to  His  will  1  hope  ever  cheerfully  to  submit.  .  .  . 
My  dear  EUie,  when  living,  spoke  of  the  beauty  of 
your  letters.  I  feel  that  had  she  lived  she  would 
have  been  in  correspondence  with  you ;  but  now  that 
cannot  be  in  this  sinful  world,  though  it  may  be  that 
an  intimate  friendshi])  will  exist  between  you  in  yon- 
der world  of  bliss  whither  she  has  gone.  If  she  re- 
tains her  pure,  human  affections  there,  I  feel  that  she 
will  derive  pleasure  from  the  acquaintance  of  any  one 
who  in  this  world  loves  me,  or  whom  1  love.  And 
does  she  not  retain  love  there  (  '  God  is  love.'  T 
believe  that  she  retains  every  pure,  human  attribute, 
and  in  a  higher  state  than  when  trammelled  with  flesh 
\u^Vi\     Oh.  do  you  not  long  to  leave  the  flesh  and  go  to 


AT   HIS   WIFE'S   GRAVE.  85 

God,  and  mingle  with  the  just  made  perfects  Of  all 
the  moments  of  life,  there  are  none  around  which  1 
cluster  so  much  that  is  joyful.  Yet  I  feel  that  I  do 
not  wish  to  go  before  it  is  the  will  of  God,  who  with- 
holds no  good  thing  from  them  that  love  Him.  I 
thank  my  Heavenly  Father  that  I  can  realize  that 
blessed  declaration.  I  frequently  go  to  the  dearest 
of  earth's  spots,  the  grave  of  her  who  was  so  pure 
and  lovely  —  but  she  is  not  there.  AYhen  I  stand 
over  the  grave,  I  do  not  fancy  that  she  is  thus  con- 
lined,  but  I  think  of  her  as  having  a  glorified  ex- 
istence.'' 

For  a  long  time  he  visited  her  grave  daily,  and  al- 
ways stood  Over  it  with  uncovered  head,  absorbed  in 
tender  and  loving  memories.  In  one  of  his  note-books 
appears  the  following  entry,  showing  his  desire  to 
profit  by  his  great  sorrow :  ''  Objects  to  be  effected 
by  Elbe's  death  :  To  eradicate  ambition ;  to  eradicate 
resentment ;  to  produce  Immility.  If  you  desire  to  be 
more  heavenly-minded,  think  more  of  the  things  of 
heaven,  and  less  of  the  things  of  earth." 

During  the  summer  and  fall  of  1856,  Major  Jack- 
son made  a  tour  through  Europe,  which  covered  a 
period  of  nearly  five  months.  To  a  friend  he  wrote  : 
''  I  was  so  urged  by  a  concurrence  of  favorable  cir- 
cumstances to  visit  Europe  as  to  induce  me  to  believe 
that  the  time  had  arrived  for  carrying  out  my  long- 
contemplated  trip,  with  which  I  was  much  charmed." 
He  then  goes  on  to  speak  in  the  most  rapturous  terms 
of  ''  the  romantic  lakes  and  mountains  of  Scotland, 
the  imposing  abbeys  and  cathedrals  of  England ;  the 
Rhine,  with  its  castellated  banks  and  luxuriant  vine- 


g6  LIKK    OF    (iENERAL   THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

yards  ;  the  sublime  scenery  of  Switzerland,  with  her 
lofty  Mont  Blanc  and  massive  Mer  -  de  -  Glace  ;  the 
vestitJ-es  of  Venetian  beauty;  the  sculpture  and  paint- 
ings of  Italy;  the  ruins  of  Rome  ;  the  beautiful  Bay 
of  Naples,  illuminated  by  Vesuvius ;  and  lovely  France, 
with  her  gay  capital,"  etc.     Again  he  writes  : 

"  I  Avould  advise  you  never  to  name  my  European 
trip  to  me  unless  you  are  blest  with  a  superabundance 
of  patience,  as  its  very  mention  is  calculated  to  bring- 
up  with  it  an  almost  inexhaustible  assemblage  of 
grand  and  beautiful  associations.  Passing  over  the 
works  of  the  Creator,  which  are  far  the  most  impres- 
sive, it  is  difficult  to  conceive  of  the  influences  which 
even  the  works  of  His  creatures  exercise  over  the 
mind  till  one  loiters  amidst  their  master  productions. 
AVell  do  I  remember  the  influence  of  sculpture  upon 
me  during  my  short  stay  in  Florence,  and  how  there 
I  beo-an  to  realize  the  sentiment  of  the  Florentine : 
'  Take  from  me  my  liberty,  take  from  me  what  you 
will,  but  leave  me  my  statuary,  leave  me  these  en- 
trancing productions  of  art.'  And  similar  to  this  is 
the  influence  of  painting." 

In  another  letter  he  is  enthusiastic  over  Powers's 
statue  of  II  Penseroso,  who  '^  is  represented  as  walk- 
ing al)r()a(l  wliile  absorbed  in  thought,  with  the  finger 
of  one  hand  I'esting  upon  the  lip,  while  the  other  car- 
ries a  train." 

His  trip  gave  him  boundless  ])leasure,  and.  although 
it  Avas  a  hurried  one,  he  managed  to  visit  a  great  num- 
])er  of  places  in  the  space  of  four  months,  as  the  fol- 
lowing letter  to  his  aunt,  Mrs.  Neale,  will  show  : 


VISIT   TO  EUROPE. 


87 


"Lexington,  Ya.,  Oct.  27tli,  I80G. 
"  It  is  with  much  pleasure  that  God  again  permits  me 
to  write  to  you  from  my  adopted  home.  Your  kind- 
ness and  that  of  uncle  has  not  been  forgotten ;  but 
when  you  hear  Avhere  I  have  been  during  my  short 
absence,  you  will  not  be  surprised  at  not  having  heard 
from  me,  as  my  time  was  too  short  to  see  well  all 
that  came  within  the  range  of  my  journey.  After 
leaving  Liverpool  I  passed  to  Chester  and  Eaton 
Hall,  and  from  there,  returning,  I  visited  Glasgow, 
Lochs  Lomond  and  Katrine,  Stirling  Castle,  Edin- 
burgh, York,  London,  Antwerp,  Brussels,  Waterloo, 
Aix-la-Chapelle,  Cologne,  Bonn,  Frankf  ort  -  on  -  the - 
Main,  Lleidelberg,  Baden-Baden,  Strasburg,  Basle, 
Lakes  Lucerne,  Brience,  and  Thun;  Berne,  Freiburg, 
Geneva,  the  ]\Ier  de  Glace,  over  the  Alps  by  the  Sim- 
plon  Pass ;  Milan,  Venice,  Florence,  Xaples,  Eome, 
Marseilles,  Paris,  London,  and  Liverpool  again,  and 
then  home.  ...  It  appeared  to  me  that  Providence 
had  opened  the  Avay  for  my  long-contemplated  visit, 
and  I  am  much  gratified  at  having  gone." 

When  he  set  out  on  this  foreign  tour,  like  other  en- 
thusiastic travellers,  he  began  with  a  resolution  to 
keep  a  journal,  in  which  he  would  give  a  minute  de- 
scription of  all  that  he  saw  from  day  to  day  ;  but  when 
he  was  fairly  in  the  heart  of  Old  England,  he  found 
himself  so  absorbed  with  the  sights  and  scenes  that 
crowded  upon  his  attention  that  his  ''Journal"  sub- 
sides into  mere  jottings  of  places  and  objects  which 
are  of  interest  chiefly  to  his  family.  During  these 
months  he  acquired  such  a  knowledge  of  French  that 
for  3^ears  after  it  was  his  custom  to  read  his  Scripture 
morniui^  lesson  in  a  French  Testament. 


SS  UVK   OF   (JENERAL   THOMAS   J.  JACKSON. 

In  cTossin^i,^  the  ocean  he  gave  liiniself  ample  time 
to  reach  home  at  tlie  expiration  of  his  furlough,  but 
the  steamer  failed  to  make  the  tri])  in  the  usual  num- 
ber of  days.  At  tliis  his  friends,  who  knew  him  to 
be  the  very  soul  of  punctuality,  expressed  their  Avon- 
der  at  his  failure  to  ''  come  up  to  time."  Upon  liis 
arrival,  as  soon  as  the  lii-st  greetings  were  over,  and 
he  had  explained  the  cause  of  his  detention,  one  of 
them  exclaimed  :  "But,  Major,  haven't  you  been  mis- 
erable since  the  beginning  of  the  month  i  You  are 
so  particular  in  kee])ing  your  appointments  that  ^\e 
imagined  you  were  beside  yourself  with  imi)atience." 
"Not  at  all,"  lie  replied;  "1  did  all  in  my  power  to 
])e  here  at  the  appointed  time;  but  when  the  steamer 
was  delayed  by  Trovidence,  my  responsibility  was  at 
an  end.'-  The  great  object  of  his  journey  was  at- 
tained. Aside  from  the  pleasure  of  seeing  foreign 
countries,  his  health  Avas  perfectly  restored,  and  he 
was  ready  to  resume  his  work. 


CHAPTER  YII. 

SECOND   MARRIAGE.— HOME   LIFE.— 1857-1858. 

In  writing  these  memoirs,  it  has  been  my  aim,  up 
to  this  period,  to  keep  myself  in  the  background  as 
much  as  possible ;  but  in  what  follows,  my  own  life 
is  so  bound  up  with  that  of  my  husband  that  the 
reader  will  have  to  pardon  so  much  of  self  as  must 
necessarily  be  introduced  to  continue  the  story  of  his 
domestic  life  and  to  explain  the  letters  that  follow. 

I  trust  it  will  not  be  out  of  place  to  give  a  very  brief 
insight  into  my  early  life,  knowing  full  well  that  what- 
ever interest  is  awakened  in  me  is  only  a  reflected  one, 
arising  solely  from  the  fact  of  my  having  been  the 
wife  of  General  Jackson.  The  home  of  my  girlhood 
was  a  large,  old-fashioned  house,  surrounded  by  an 
extensive  grove  of  fine  forest  trees,  on  a  plantation  in 
Lincoln  County,  Korth  Carolina.  My  father,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  R.  H.  Morrison,  a  Presbyterian  minister,  had  in 
his  earlier  life  been  a  pastor  in  towns,  and  was  the  first 
president  of  Davidson  College,  in  Xorth  Carolina ;  but, 
his  health  having  failed,  he  sought  a  country  home  for 
rest  and  restoration,  and  reared  his  large  family  of  ten 
children  principallv  in  this  secluded  spot,  where  he  was 
able  to  preach  to  a  group  of  country  churches.  He 
was  graduated  from  the  Universit}^  of  Korth  Carolina, 
in  the  year  1818,  in  a  class  with  President  Polk,  Bish- 
op Green,  of  Mississippi,  and  several  other  men  of  em- 


00  LII'K   OF   GENERAL   THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 

ineiice  in  church  and  state.  lie  Avas  always  a  good 
student,  and  liis  own  home  furnished  the  best  school 
for  his  children  until  the  girls  were  old  enough  to  be 
sent  off  to  boarding-school  and  the  boys  to  college.^- 

*  The  nauK'S  of  those  children  were  : 

1st.  IsabeUa,  who  married  General  D.  H.  IIill. 

2d.  William  AVilberforce  (of  the  Confederate  army),  who  died 
in  18G.J,  a  victim  of  the  war. 

3d.  Harriet,  married  Mr.  James  P.  Irwin,  of  Charlotte,  N.  C. 

4th.  Mary  Anna,  Avifc  of  General  Thomas  J.  Jackson. 

5th.  Eugenia,  married  General  Ruius  Barringer,  of  X.  C. 

6th.  Susan,  mtirried  Judge  A.  C.  Avery,  of  N.  C. 

7th.  Laura,  married  Colonel  J.  E.  Brown,  of  Charlotte,  K  C. 

8th.  Joseph  Graham,  married  Jennie  Davis,  of  Salisbury,  N.  C. 

9th.  Robert  Hall,  married  Lucy  Reid,  of  Iredell  County,  N.  C. 

10th.  Alfred  J.,  married  Portia  Lee  Atkinson,  daughter  of  Rev. 
Dr.  J.  31.  P.  Atkinson,  of  Hampden  Sidney  College,  Virginia. 

Alfred,  the  Benjamin  and  flower  of  the  flock,  followed  the  sacred 
calling  of  his  father.  Gifted  in  mind  and  person  and  winning 
in  manner,  he  gave  promise  of  great  usefulness  in  the  church. 
He  was  settled  as  pastor  of  a  Presbyterian  church  in  Selmn,  Ala- 
bama, where  his  labors  had  been  greatly  blessed,  but  at  the  end 
of  six  months  his  career  was  cut  short  by  typhoid  fever. 

My  honored  and  beloved  father  long  outlived  his  son,  Laving 
attained  the  age  of  ninety  years.  As  he  died  since  this  biography 
was  commenced,  I  cannot  refrain  from  quoting  a  brief  tribute  by 
my  pastor  to  his  memory  : 

"  Descended  from  a  sterling  Scotch-Irish  ancestry,  he  inherited 
those  qualities  of  mind  and  heart  which,  hallowed  by  grace,  made 
him  an  honor  to  the  age  and  a  blessing  to  the  world.  Called  by 
the  Saviour  in  the  morning  of  life,  he  obeyed  the  voice  of  the  gra- 
cious Shepherd,  and  followed  Him  faithfully  to  its  close.  Four 
times  a  year  he  read  the  Bible  through  from  beginning  to  end,  study- 
ing all  the  commentaries  that  could  throw  light  upon  its  sacred 
pages.  Those,  with  daily  communion  with  God,  and  the  reading 
f)f  devotional  books,  were  tlie  sources  of  his  truly  heavenly  piety. 
Literary  tastes  were  sanctified,  and  mind  and  heart  found  their 


DR.  MORRISOX  AND  GENERAL  GRAHAM.       91 

In  those  good  old  times  before  the  war  many  wealthy 
families  lived  upon  their  plantations,  and  the  neigli- 
borhood  in  Avhich  my  father  lived  was  noted  for  its 
excellent  society,  relinement,  and  hospitality.  My 
mother  was  Mary  Graham,-  daugliter  of  General  Jo- 

liighest  satisftxction  and  enjoyment  in  the  green  pastures  of  divine 
truth  and  beside  the  still  waters  of  divine  consolation.  The  grand 
doctrines  of  grace  entered  into  and  moulded  his  Christian  experi- 
ence, and  made  him  humble  and  prayerful,  cheerful  and  strong, 
decided  but  liberal,  active  and  zealous,  steadfast,  immovable,  and 
always  abounding  in  the  work  of  the  Lord.  In  Lis  latter  years 
all  of  his  income — after  providing  for  his  personal  wants — was  de- 
voted to  the  Gospel,  not  restricting  himself  to  his  own,  but  assist- 
ing other  denominations  of  Christians. 

"Davidson  College,  of  which  he  was  the  founder,  has  risen  to 
eminence  among  the  institutions  of  America.  Its  liigh  standard 
commands  the  respect  of  the  whole  country,  whilst  the  moral  in- 
fluences which  govern  and  surround  it  are  unsurpassed.  During 
the  fifty-two  years  of  its  existence,  it  has  given  to  the  church  two 
hundred  ministers  of  the  Gospel !  Who  is  able  to  compute  the 
sum  total  of  blessing  accruing  to  the  world  from  this  one  source 
alone  ?  Who  is  able  to  measure  its  influence  for  good  through 
all  coming  time?  And  who  is  able  to  estimate  the  indebted- 
ness of  society,  the  state,  and  the  church  to  its  noble  founder  ? 
Davidson  College  is  his  monument,  for  which  generations  yet  un- 
born will  rise  up  and  bless  the  name  of  Dr.  Robert  Hall  Morrison. 

"  He  has  left  to  his  descendants  the  rich  legacy  of  an  honored 
name,  a  holy  life,  an  elevated  Christian  character,  and  many 
fervent  prayers  v/hich  have  been,  and  are  yet  to  be,  answered  in 
blessings  on  their  heads — a  legacy  infinitely  more  precious  than 
all  the  diadems  and  treasures  of  earth."' 

*The  name  of  Graham  recalls  that  of  my  mother's  father,  Gen- 
eral Joseph  Graham,  a  name  well  known  in  our  Revolutionary 
annals.  He  entered  the  army  at  nineteen  years  of  age.  At  the 
end  of  two  years  of  arduous  and  responsible  service  he  was  strick- 
en down  by  a  severe  and  lingering  illness,  but  returning  health 


90      I'1I"^K  or  CENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

sepli  (4niliain,  and  sister  of  the  Hon.  ^^illiam  A.  Gra- 
ham, who  Avas  successively  Governor  of  North  Caro- 
lina, United  States  Senator,  and  Secretary  of  the  Xavy 
durinf^"  President  Fillmore's  administration.  Having 
seen  a  good  deal  of  the  Avorld  in  her  young  days,  my 
mother  was  anxious  to  give  her  daughters  the  same 
pleasure,  and  we  were  indulged  in  charming  trips 
whenever  it  Avas  practicable ;  but,  there  being  six 
daughters,  we  had  to  take  these  trips  by  turns.  My 
beautiful  younger  sister  Eugenia  and  I  left  school  at 
the  same  time,  came  out  as  young  ladies  together,  and 
never  were  two  sisters  happier  or  more  united  in  mut- 
ual affection  and  confidence.     AYe  Avere  simple  coun- 

found  hira  again  in  the  field.  When  the  war  invaded  his  own 
section,  and  the  army  nuder  General  Greene  withdrew  towards 
Virginia,  to  him  was  assigned  the  command  of  those  troops  which 
sustained  the  rear-guard  nnder  General  Davies.  For  many  miles 
he  was  confronted  witli  Tarleton's  famous  cavalry,  said  to  be  the 
best  in  the  British  service.  The  obstinate  resistance  wliich  he  op- 
posed to  their  advance  had  nearly  closed  his  career.  After  many 
gallant  but  ineffectual  attempts  to  drive  them  back,  he  fell,  liter- 
ally covered  with  wouuds.  But  no  sooner  did  he  recover  than  he 
again  took  the  field.  The  service  which  now  fell  to  his  lot  was 
one  of  peculiar  privation,  suftering,  and  sacrifice.  Of  commissary 
stores,  his  command  often  had  none  ;  nay,  were  sometimes  under 
the  necessity  of  supplying  their  own  horses  and  j^urcluising  their 
own  equipments.  But  his  patriotism  was  entire  and  uncalculat- 
ing;  he  recked  not  of  means,  health,  or  life  itself  in  the  cause  to 
which  he  had  devoted  himself;  and  so  he  continued  in  the  field  as 
long  as  there  was  an  enemy  in  the  country,  and  though,  when 
])eace  was  declared,  he  had  but  entered  on  the  threshold  of  man- 
hood, he  ha<l  commanded  in  fifteen  different  engagements. 

In  civil  life  he  was  scarcely  less  distinguished.  The  many  im- 
portant positions  filled  by  him  aff"ord  the  highest  testimony  to  his 
capacity  and  character.  He  received  the  commission  of  major- 
treneral  durin''  the  war  of  1812. 


VISIT    TO   WASHINGTON.  93 

try  raaidens,  knowing  little  of  the  world  outside  of 
our  father's  home,  where  all  was  purity,  peace,  and 
contentment. 

My  first  revelation  of  the  gay  Avorld  was  a  visit  to 
my  uncle  Graham,  in  Washington,  during  the  last 
year  of  Mr.  Fillmore's  administration.  AYashington 
was  then  a  rather  small,  old-fashioned  city  compared 
with  its  present  expansion  and  magniticence,  but  to  a 
little  country  girl,  in  1853,  it  was  the  grandest  and 
most  charming  place  that  she  liad  ever  seen.  Two 
other  young  ladies  were  guests  of  my  uncle  at  the 
same  time,  and  we  formed  a  most  congenial  and  hap- 
pv  trio  during:  mv  delio^htful  stay  of  four  months. 
Being  "Cabinet  ladies,''  Ave,  of  course,  were  invited 
to  all  the  grand  entertainments,  and  though  none  of 
us  were  dancing  girls  (for  myself,  as  a  minister's 
daughter,  it  would  not  have  been  considered  proper), 
certainly  we  did  not  need  it  to  complete  our  enjoy- 
ment. 

One  of  our  red-letter  evenings  was  a  select  social  tea 
at  the  AVhite  House,  the  charming  hostess.  Miss  Fill- 
more, being  equal  in  cultivation  and  accomplishments 
to  any  one  w^ho  has  filled  the  position  of  "  first  lady 
of  the  land."  Her  mother  was  living,  and,  of  course, 
took  precedence  of  the  daughter,  but  the  latter  was 
hostess  to  her  young  friends  on  this  evening.  We  had 
some  very  delightful  music  on  the  harp,  one  lady  sing- 
ing ''Auld  Robin  Gray"  Avith  exquisite  beauty  and 
pathos. 

Upon  my  return  home,  my  younger  sister,  Eugenia, 
was  to  have  a  trip  to  Lexington,  Virginia,  Avhich  at 
that  time  was  the  home  of  our  oldest  sister,  wdio  had 
married  Major  D.  H.  Hill  (afterwards  general  in  the 


..♦4  I>n'E   OF   (JEXERAL   THOMAS   J.  JACKSON. 

Confederate  army),  a  professor  in  Washington  College. 
One  of  my  father's  elders  and  friends,  Eobert  I.  McDow- 
ell, was  a  (lel(\i:-ate  to  the  General  Assembly  at  Philadel- 
phia, and  kindly  oifered  to  escort  Eugenia  on  her  jour- 
ney. Having  recently  returned  from  so  hjng  a  visit 
to  AVashiugton,  it  never  entered  into  my  head  even  to 
wish  that  1  might  be  permitted  to  accompany  my  sis- 
ter, and  mv  astonishment  can  be  imagined  when  she 
came  bounding  into  my  room  in  a  perfect  ecstasy,  ex- 
claiming :  ''  Oh,  sister,  father  says  you  may  go,  too !" 
Being  a  very  dejiendent  younger  sister,  and  always 
shrinking,  on  account  of  shyness,  from  going  any- 
where alone,  it  may  be  that  she  had  put  in  a  plea  for 
me  to  accompany  her  that  was  irresistible;  but,  at  all 
events,  no  plan  could  have  been  more  delightful  than 
for  us  to  make  this  visit  together,  and  two  more  joy- 
ous young  creatures  never  set  out  upon  a  journey,  the 
entire  unexpectedness  of  my  being  one  of  the  party 
filling  the  cup  of  our  happiness. 

At  that  time  North  Carolina  had  only  a  few  rail- 
roads. nr»nc  near  to  us,  going  north ;  but  there  was  one 
I'unning  from  Charlotte  to  Charleston,  South  Carolina, 
and  our  escort  chose  this  circuitous  route,  via  Charles- 
ton, Wilmington,  and  Richmond,  rather  than  travel  by 
coach  across  the  country. 

This  long  journey,  instead  of  proving  wearisome  to 
us,  was  a  source  of  genuine  enjoyment,  especially  as 
we  took  it  by  easy  stages.  AVe  spent  one  night  in 
Columbia,  which  we  had  time  to  see  in  its  lovely  May 
dress,  with  its  enchanting  old  private  gardens,  with 
tlieii'  w(';iltli  oF  flowers  and  evergreens.  At  Charles- 
ton we  spent  only  a  few  hours,  but  our  drive  through 
it  to  take  the  steamer  gave  us  a  glimpse  of  this  city 


FIEST   VISIT    TO   LEXINGTON".  95 

by  the  seca.  Our  rapture  then  reached  its  acme,  when 
we  beheld  for  the  first  time  the  ocean,  and  had  a  sail 
of  twenty-four  hours  ui)on  it  to  Wihnington.  It  was 
a  perfect  afternoon,  the  sunset  was  superb,  and,  as 
we  escaped  seasickness,  we  were  able  to  enjoy  every- 
thing. From  Wilmington  to  Eichmond  we  travelled  by 
rail,  and  expected  at  the  latter  place  to  part  with  our 
escort,  but  he  chivalrously  volunteered  to  see  us  to  our 
journey's  end,  and  accompanied  us  all  the  way  to  Lex- 
ington. From  Staunton  to  Lexington  we  travelled  by 
stage-coach.  Upon  our  arrival,  my  sister,  Mrs.  Hill, 
was  as  much  surprised  at  seeing  me  as  I  was  at 
being  permitted  to  take  the  trip,  for  she  was  expect- 
ing only  one  of  her  young  sisters  to  visit  her  that 
summer. 

General  Hill  has  told  of  the  links  in  the  chain  of 
Providence  that  led  Major  Jackson  to  Lexington.  Of 
course,  I  cannot  but  look  upon  it  as  a  special  Provi- 
dence that  led  me  there  to  meet  him  who  was  to  be 
my  future  husband,  and  to  know  him  as  a  friend,  with- 
out the  remotest  idea,  on  his  part  or  mine,  that  we 
could  ever  be  to  each  other  anything  more. 

Through  the  letters  of  Major  and  Mrs.  Hill,  we  had 
heard  of  their  friend.  Major  Jackson,  and  his  engage- 
ment to  Miss  Elinor  Junkin  had  been  confided  to  them 
before  we  went  to  Lexington,  so  that  before  we  met 
him  we  knew  that  he  was  soon  to  be  married.  He 
was  very  intimate  at  the  house  of  Major  Hill,  and  was 
the  first  gentleman  to  call  upon  us,  his  regard  for  our 
relatives  giving  him  a  very  friendly  feeling  towards 
us.  His  greeting  was  most  cordial,  and  he  very  soon 
offered  his  services  in  the  kindest  manner,  tellino-  us 
that  if  Major  Hill  was  ever  too  much  engaged  to  give 


96       I^It'K  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

US  every  needful  attention,  we  must  call  upon  him  as 
we  would  niK)n  a  brother. 

My  first  impression  was  that  he  was  more  soldierly- 
looking  than  anything  else,  his  erect  bearing  and  mil- 
itary dress  being  quite  striking;  but  upon  engaging  in 
conversation,  his  open,  animated  countenance,  and  his 
clear  complexion,  tinged  v»^ith  the  ruddy  glow  of  health, 
were  still  moi'e  pleasing.  The  descriptions  of  his  per- 
sonal appearance  differ  so  much  that  I  must  be  per- 
mitted to  give  mine,  which  surely  ought  to  be  true  to 
life.  Ilis  head  was  a  splendid  one,  large  and  finely 
formed,  and  covered  with  soft,  dark-brown  hair,  which, 
if  allowed  to  grow  to  any  length,  curled ;  but  he  had 
a  horror  of  long  hair  for  a  man,  and  clung  to  the  con- 
ventional style,  d  la  mUitaire,  of  Avearing  very  close- 
cut  hair  and  short  side-whiskers.  After  he  was  per- 
suaded to  turn  out  a  full  beard,  it  was  much  more  be- 
coming to  him,  his  beard  being  a  heav}^  and  handsome 
l)rown,  a  shade  lighter  than  his  hair.  His  forehead 
was  noble  and  expansive,  and  always  fair,  from  its 
protection  by  his  military  cap.  His  eyes  were  blue- 
gray  in  color,  large,  and  well-formed,  capable  of  won- 
derful chano:es  with  his  varvino^  emotions.  His  nose 
was  straight  and  finely  chiselled,  his  mouth  small,  and 
his  face  oval.  His  profile  was  very  fine.  All  his  feat- 
ures were  regular  and  symmetrical,  and  he  was  at  all 
times  manly  and  noble-looking,  and  when  in  robust 
health  he  was  a  handsome  man. 

His  manners  were  rather  stiff,  but  they  had  a  cer- 
tain dignity  which  showed  that  he  was  not  an  ordi- 
nary man.  II  is  uniform,  consisting  of  a  dark -blue 
frock-coat  with  shoulder-straps,  double-breasted,  and 
buttoned  up  to  the  chin  with  brass  buttons,  and  fault- 


OUR  "MILITARY    ESCORT."  97 

less  white   linen   pantaloons,  was  very  becoming  to 
him. 

My  young  sister  and  I  were  at  the  age  when  girls 
can  see  fun  in  everything,  and  while  fully  appreciating 
the  warmth  of  his  kindness,  we  were  silly  enough  to 
make  ourselves  very  merry  over  the  role  he  had  as- 
sumed in  offering  himself  as  a  brother  to  us,  and  we 
never  looked  upon  him  as  a  beau  any  more  than  we 
would  upon  a  man  who  was  already  married.  With 
this  perfect  understanding  of  the  situation,  we  came 
to  know  him  very  intimately,  a  day  rarely  passing 
without  his  calling  for  a  few  moments;  and  having 
adopted  us  as  his  protegees^  he  came  every  Sunday 
evening  to  see  if  we  were  provided  with  escorts  for 
church.  My  beautiful  young  sister  was  more  of  a 
belle  than  I,  and  was  scarcely  ever  without  an  engage- 
ment of  this  kind,  so  it  fell  to  my  lot  to  share  the 
brotherly  wing  of  the  major  oftener  than  to  her.  I 
always  felt  that  he  would  have  chosen  her  first  if  the 
opportunity  offered,  but  neither  of  us  had  any  greater 
hesitation  in  accepting  his  escort  than  we  would  that 
of  Major  Hill.  We  both  felt  that  he  was  a  delightful 
and  never-failing  stand-by,  as  he  always  kept  out  of 
the  way  if  any  other  young  men  wished  to  pay  their 
respects,  only  offering  his  services  when  they  were 
needed.  But  he  often  took  us  on  long  strolls  into 
the  country,  and  contributed  in  every  way  that  he 
could  to  our  enjoyment  as  long  as  he  remained.  We 
teased  him  a  great  deal,  which  he  always  took  good- 
naturedly,  but  never  once  admitted  to  us  the  fact  of 
his  engagement,  and  his  fiancee  and  he  were  rarely 
seen  together  in  public.  This  Avas  in  deference  to  her 
wishes,  and  they  both  kept  their  secret  so  well  guard- 
7 


98       Llt'^^  ^^''   GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

ed  that,  when  their  marriage  was  announced  it  took 
the  town  by  surprise.  AVe  were  in  Lexington  at  the 
time.  He  had  bidden  us  good-by,  and  gone  off  in  the 
beinnning  of  his  summer  vacation,  and  we  thought  we 
had  seen  the  last  of  the  major,  as  w^e  were  to  return 
home  before  his  professorial  duties  called  him  back. 

That  visit  to  Lexington,  to  us,  was  as  charming  as 
charming  could  be.  Arriving  there,  as  we  did,  in  the 
month  of  May,  that  mountain  country  was  arrayed  in 
all  its  spring  beauty,  and  there  could  not  have  been  a 
more  propitious  season  for  social  enjoyment  to  young 
people  than  just  before  the  commencements  of  the 
two  large  institutions.  We  were  there  long  enough 
in  advance  to  make  many  pleasant  acquaintances, 
and,  that  being  the  gay  season  of  the  town,  there  w^ere 
a  succession  of  entertainments  and  a  round  of  par- 
ties, at  which  there  w^as  always  music,  but  never  danc- 
ing or  card-playing.  A  more  cultivated  and  religious 
community  was  not  to  be  found;  and  the  numerous 
young  men  there  at  the  time,  embracing  professors, 
theological  and  college  students,  cadets,  and  citizens, 
seemed  to  vie  with  each  other  in  showing  courtesy  to 
the  young  ladies,  of  whom  there  Avas  an  unusually  large 
circle  there  that  summer.  After  the  commencements 
were  over,  the  greater  part  of  our  acquaintances  left  for 
their  homes,  or  for  new  scenes  of  recreation  during  the 
vacation.  But  even  after  the  cessation  of  the  round  of 
gayety,  and  w^hen  the  College  and  the  Institute  were 
em])ty,  there  were  enough  residents  left  to  afford  us  a 
very  delightful,  though  quiet,  time  to  the  end  of  our  visit. 

r)ne  August  morning  we  were  taken  by  surprise 
when  (jur  friend  Major  Jackson  suddenly  dropped  in, 
and  our  many  exclamations  of  wonder  at  seeing  him 


A   SISTER'S   MARRIAGE.  99 

amused  him  as  much  as  his  unexpected  appearance 
astonished  us.  The  reunion  was  a  merry  one,  and  he 
spent  an  hour  or  more,  calHng  for  his  favorite  songs 
and  seeming  genuinely  happy ;  but  not  even  a  liint 
did  he  give  us  as  to  the  object  of  his  return,  although 
we  plied  him  with  all  sorts  of  teasing  questions.  We 
saw  him  no  more,  but  were  electrified  the  next  morn- 
ing at  hearing  that  he  and  Miss  Ellie  Junkin  were 
married,  and  had  gone  Xorth  on  a  bridal  tour ! 

After  our  return  home,  my  sister  and  I  became  ab- 
sorbed in  our  old  associations,  and  while  retaining  the 
most  pleasant  and  grateful  recollections  of  our  kind 
friend  Major  Jackson,  we  lost  sight  of  him  entirely ; 
and  as  Major  and  Mrs.  Hill  removed  from  Lexington, 
our  communication  with  the  place  was  cut  off. 

The  following  spring  after  our  return,  Eugenia  was 
married  to  a  young  lawyer  of  Korth  Carolina,  Mr. 
Rufus  Barringer,  who  during  the  war  became  a  gen- 
eral in  the  Confederate  army. 

The  loss  of  her  sweet  companionship  was,  up  to  that 
time,  the  g-reatest  trial  of  my  life.  For  three  years 
after,  I  lived  at  home  ''  in  maiden  meditation,  fancy- 
free" — little  dreaming  what  the  future  held  in  store  for 
me ;  for  I  can  truthfully  sa}^  that  my  fate  was  as  much 
of  a  surprise  to  me  as  it  could  have  been  to  any  one 
else.  ^Ye  had  heard  with  sincere  sorrow  and  sympa- 
thy of  the  death  of  Mrs.  Jackson ;  but  afterwards  noth- 
ing was  heard  from  the  major,  except  in  an  incidental 
way.  However,  he  was  given  to  surprises,  and  after 
returning  from  Europe  with  restored  health  and  spir- 
its he  began  to  realize  that  life  could  be  made  bright 
and  happy  to  him  again,  and  in  revolving  this  problem 
in  his  mind  his  first  impulse  was  to  open  communica- 


100  I-Il-'^^   ^^'I*'  GENERAL   THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

tion  with  his  old  friend  Miss  Anna  Morrison,  and  see 
if  she  could  not  be  induced  to  become  a  participant  in 
attaining  liis  desired  happiness.  So,  to  my  great  sur- 
prise, the  first  letter  I  ever  received  from  him  came  to 
me  expressing  such  blissful  memories  over  reminis- 
cences of  the  summer  Ave  had  been  together  in  Lex- 
ington that  my  sister  Eugenia  laughed  most  heartily 
over  it,  and  predicted  an  early  visit  from  the  major. 
Still,  I  was  incredulous,  and  when  her  prediction  was 
verified  in  a  very  short  time,  and  I  saw  a  tall  form, 
in  military  dress,  walking  up  from  my  father's  gate, 
I  could  scarcely  believe  my  senses.  His  visit  was 
brief,  as  he  had  asked  for  a  leave  of  absence  in  the 
midst  of  the  session,  promising  to  return  on  a  certain 
day,  and  it  mattered  not  how  much  success  or  fascina- 
tion enchained  him,  he  would  not  indulge  himself  one 
moment  beyond  the  limit  of  his  time.  My  father  was 
highly  pleased  with  him  as  a  Christian  gentleman,  and 
my  mother  was  also  favorably  impressed,  especially 
with  his  extreme  politeness,  so  that  his  visit  was  one 
of  mutual  congeniality  and  enjoyment.  I  was  always 
thankful  that  our  acquaintance  and  friendship  had 
been  formed  in  a  perfectly  disinterested  way,  without 
a  thouglit  on  either  side  that  we  should  ever  occupy 
a  closer  relation. 

Tie  was  a  great  advocate  for  marriage,  appreciating 
the  gentler  sex  so  highly  that  whenever  he  met  one 
of  the  "unappropriated  blessings"  under  the  type  of 
truest  womanhood,  he  would  wish  that  one  of  his  bach- 
elor friends  could  be  fortunate  enough  to  win  her. 

Some  extracts  from  his  letters  after  our  engage- 
ment will  show  the  tenderness  of  his  nature,  and  how 
with  this  human  affection  were  mingled  a  boundless 


EXTRACTS    FROM   LETTERS.  101 

love  and  gratitude  to  Him  who  was  the  giver  of  all. 
Upon  hearing  of  the  death  of  an  idolized  little  boy, 
the  son  of  Major  Hill,  he  writes :  "  I  wrote  to  Major 
and  Mrs.  Hill  a  few  days  since,  and  my  prayer  is  that 
this  heavy  affliction  may  be  sanctified  to   them.     I 

was  not  surprised  that  little  M was  taken  away, 

as  I  have  long  regarded  his  father's  attachment  to 
him  as  too  strong;  that  is,  so  strong  that  he  would 
be  unwilling  to  give  him  up,  though  God  should  call 
for  his  own.  I  do  not  believe  that  an  attachment 
ever  is,  or  can  be,  absolutely  too  strong  for  any  object 
of  our  affections;  but  our  love  to  God  may  not  be 
strong  enough.  We  may  not  love  Him  so  intensely  as 
to  have  no  will  but  His.  ...  Is  there  not  a  comfort  in 
prayer  which  is  nowhere  else  to  be  found?" 

"April  25th,  1S5T.  It  is  a  great  comfort  to  me  to 
knov\^  that  although  I  am  not  with  you,  yet  you  are 
in  the  hands  of  One  who  will  not  permit  any  evil  to 
come  nigh  you.  What  a  consoling  thought  it  is  to 
know  that  we  may,  with  perfect  confidence,  commit 
all  our  friends  in  Jesus  to  the  care  of  our  Heavenly 
Father,  with  an  assurance  that  all  will  be  well  with 
them !  .  .  .  I  have  been  sorel}^  disappointed  at  not 
hearing  from  you  this  morning,  but  these  disappoint- 
ments are  all  designed  for  our  good. 

'-  In  my  daily  walks  I  think  much  of  you.  I  love  to 
stroll  abroad  after  the  labors  of  the  day  are  over,  and 
indulge  feelings  of  gratitude  to  God  for  all  the  sources 
of  natural  beauty  with  ^vhich  he  has  adorned  the 
earth.  Some  time  since,  my  morning  walks  were  ren- 
dered very  delightful  by  the  singing  of  the  birds.  The 
morning  carolling  of  the  birds,  and  their  sweet  notes 


100  I.IlK    nF    GENERAL    THOMAS   J.   JACKSOX. 

in  the  evenino-,  awaken  in  nie  devotional  feelings  of 
praise  and  thanksgiving,  though  very  cUtferent  in  their 
nature.  In  the  morning,  all  animated  nature  (man  ex- 
ce])ted)  appears  to  join  in  expressions  of  gratitude  to 
God  :  in  the  evening,  all  is  hushing  into  silent  slum])er, 
and  thus  disposes  the  mind  to  meditation.  And  as 
my  mind  dwells  on  you,  I  love  to  give  it  a  devotional 
turn,  by  thinking  of  you  as  a  gift  from  our  Heavenly 
Fatlier.  How  delightful  it  is  thus  to  associate  every 
pleasure  and  enjoyment  with  God  the  Giver  I  Thus 
will  He  bless  us,  and  make  us  grow  in  grace,  and  in 
the  knowledge  of  Him,  whom  to  know  aright  is  life 
eternal."' 

"May  Tth.  1  wish  I  could  be  with  you  to-morrow 
at  your  communion.  Though  absent  in  body,  yet  in 
spirit  I  shall  be  present,  and  my  prayer  will  be  for 
your  growth  in  every  Christian  grace.  ...  I  take 
special  pleasure  in  the  part  of  my  prayers  in  which  I 
beg  that  every  temporal  and  spiritual  blessing  may 
be  yours,  and  tliat  the  glory  of  God  may  be  the  con- 
trolling and  al)Sorbino:  thouo-ht  of  our  lives  in  our  new 
relation.  It  is  to  me  a  great  satisfaction  to  feel  that 
our  Heavenly  Father  has  so  manifestly  ordered  our 
union.  I  believe,  and  am  persuaded,  that  if  we  but 
walk  ill  His  commandments,  acknowledo^ino:  Him  in 
all  oui-  ways,  He  will  shower  His  blessings  upon  us. 
How  delightful  it  is  to  feel  that  we  have  such  a 
friend,  wlio  changes  not !  The  Christian's  recogni- 
tion of  (iod  in  all  Hi.s  woi'ks  greatly  enhances  his  en- 
joyment." 

••  M;iy  l<Uli.     There  is  something  very  pleasant   in 


HIS   SECOND    MARRIAGE.  103 

the  thought  of  your  mailing  me  a  letter  every  Mon- 
day ;  such  manifestation  of  regard  for  the  Sabbath 
must  be  well-pleasing  in  the  sight  of  God.  Oh  that 
all  our  people  would  manifest  such  a  regard  for  his 
holy  day !  If  Ave  would  idl  strictly  observe  his  holy 
laws,  wiiat  would  not  our  country  be  ?  .  .  .  When  in 
prayer  for  you  last  Sabbath,  the  tears  came  to  my  eyes, 
and  I  reahzed  an  unusual  degree  of  emotional  tender- 
ness. I  have  not  yet  fully  analyzed  my  feelings  to  my 
satisfaction,  so  as  to  arrive  at  the  cause  of  such  emo- 
tions ;  but  I  am  disposed  to  think  that  it  consisted  in 
the  idea  of  the  intimate  relation  existing  between  you, 
as  the  object  of  my  tender  aflPection,  and  God,  to 
Avhom  I  looked  up  as  my  Heavenly  Father.  I  felt  that 
day  as  if  it  were  a  communion  day  for  myself.''  .  .  . 

"  June  20th.  I  never  remember  to  have  felt  so  touch- 
ingly  as  last  Sabbath  the  pleasure  springing  from  the 
thought  of  prayers  ascending  for  my  welfare  from 
one  tenderly  beloved.  There  is  something  very  de- 
lightful in  such  spiritual  communion." 

On  the  16th  of  July,  1857,  we  were  married.  It 
was  a  quiet  little  home  wedding,  and  the  ceremony 
was  performed  by  a  favorite  old  ministerial  friend  of 
mine,  Eev.  Dr.  Drury  Lacy.  My  father  could  not 
trust  his  emotional  nature  enough  to  marry  any  of 
his  daughters. 

Whether  or  not  it  was  in  his  usual  formula,  or 
whether  he  was  impressed  by  the  very  determined 
and  unbending  look  of  the  mihtary  bridegroom.  Dr. 
Lacy  made  him  promise  to  be  an  ''  indulgent  husband," 
laying  special  stress  upon  the  adjective ;  but  he  was 


1(»4  LIFE    OF   GENERAL  THOMAS   J.   JACKSON'. 

equally  emphatic  in  exacting  obedience  on  the  part  of 
the  bride. 

The  most  memorable  incident  of  the  occasion  to 
me  was  that  my  trousseau,  which  had  been  ordered 
from  Xew  York  in  ample  time,  arrived  only  a  few 
hours  before  the  ceremony,  and  I  had  been  compelled 
to  improvise  a  bridal  outfit,  in  the  certain  expectation 
of  disappointment.  However,  the  old  adage  "All's 
well  that  ends  well"  w^as  verified  in  this  case,  as  every 
article  of  my  ordering  was  a  perfect  fit,  and  entirely 
satisfactory ;  and  the  trustful  major  had  reassured  me 
all  along  that  they  would  come  in  time.  This  was  one 
of  the  "special  providences"  w^hich  he  loved  to  re- 
count. His  bridal  gifts  to  me  w^ere  a  beautiful  gold 
watch  and  a  lovely  set  of  seed  pearls. 

A  few^  days  after  our  marriage  we  set  out  upon  a 
Xorthern  tour.  The  trip  included  visits  to  Richmond, 
Baltimore,  Philadelphia,  New  York,  Saratoga,  and  Ni- 
atjara.  In  Xew  York  'vje  saw  almost  everything  that 
was  to  be  seen  in  the  w^ay  of  sight-seeing,  even  climb- 
ing to  the  top  of  the  spire  of  Trinity  Church,  to  take 
a  bird's-eye  view  of  the  magnificent  panorama  which 
it  overlooks.  The  view  Avas  indeed  grand,  embracing 
the  whole  city — graceful,  sparkling  rivers;  the  bay 
and  sound,  studded  w^ith  vessels  in  motion  and  at 
rest :  and  beautiful  rural  scenery  stretching  out  as  far 
as  the  eye  could  reach. 

Ihit  the  places  that  combined  the  greatest  amount 
of  interest  and  pleasure  w^ere  Niagara  and  Saratoga. 
No  man  delighted  more  in  viewing  the  grand  and  won- 
derful works  of  the  Creator,  and  in  looking  "through 
nature  up  to  nature's  God."  At  Saratoga  he  took 
not  a  particle  of  interest  in  the  gay  and  fashionable 


IX   THE   VALLEY   OF  YIRGLVIA.  105 

throng,  but  the  natural  beauties  of  the  place  charmed 
him,  and  he  found  a  delightful  recreation  in  rowing 
me  over  the  lovely  lake,  whose  placid  waters  were,  at 
that  time,  covered  with  water-lilies. 

After  completing  this  delightful  Northern  tour,  we 
wended  our  way  to  the  Kockbridge  Alum  Springs,  a 
ver}^  pleasant  mountain  resort  in  the  Valley  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  only  a  few  hours  from  Lexington.  Here 
we  remained  several  weeks,  or  until  the  beginning  of 
the  session  at  the  Institute  ;  enjoying  the  quiet,  and 
spending  the  time  in  reading,  walking,  and  sitting 
in  the  woods  ;  the  delicious  mountain  air  and  fine 
scenery  giving  a  zest  to  existence,  and  sending  us 
away  regretfully  when  duty  called  us  home.  Major 
Jackson  derived  great  benefit  from  the  mineral  waters 
of  the  Eockbridge  Alum  Springs,  and  it  was  a  favorite 
resort  of  his.  Upon  our  return  to  Lexington  w^e  lived 
for  a  few  months  at  the  best  hotel  in  the  place  ;  but  he 
was  not  at  all  fond  of  boarding,  and  longed  for  the 
time  when  he  could  have  a  home  of  his  own.  In  a 
letter  to  a  friend  he  says  :  "  I  hope  in  the  course  of 
time  we  shall  be  able  to  call  some  house  our  home, 
where  we  may  have  the  pleasure  of  receiving  a  long 
visit  from  you.  I  shall  never  be  content  until  I  am 
at  the  head  of  an  establishment  in  which  my  friends 
can  feel  at  home  in  Lexington.  I  have  taken  the  first 
important  step  by  securing  a  wife  capable  of  making 
a  happy  home,  and  the  next  thing  is  to  give  her  an 
opportunity." 

Doctor  Dabney  truly  says  of  General  Jackson  that 
''  in  no  man  were  the  domestic  affections  ever  more 
tender  and  noble.  He  Avho  saw  only  the  stern,  self- 
denying  soldier  in  his  quarters,  amidst  the  details  of 


106     LIFE  OF  GEXERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

the  commander's  duties,  or  on  the  field  of  battle,  could 
scarcely  comprehend  the  gentle  sweetness  of  his  home 
life.  There  the  cloud,  which  to  his  enemies  was  only 
night  and  tempest,  displayed  nothing  but  the  '  silver 
lining/  In  his  household  the  law  of  love  reigned  :  his 
own  ])attern  was  the  chief  stimulus  to  duty;  and  his 
sternest  rebuke,  when  he  beheld  any  recession  from 
gentleness  or  ]n'opriety,  was  to  say,  half  tenderly,  half 
sadly  :  'Ah  I  that  is  not  the  way  to  be  happy  I'  " 
Bayard  Taylor's  beautiful  lines  : 

•*  The  bravest  are  the  tenderest, 
The  loving  are  tlie  dariug," 

found  a  true  exemplification  in  him,  of  which  his 
letters  will  be  the  best  proof. 

A  few  months  after  our  marriage  he  proposed  that 
we  should  study  together  the  Shorter  Catecliism  as  a 
Sabbath-afternoon  exercise,  and  it  was  not  long  until 
we  committed  it  to  memory — he  reciting  it  to  me 
with  perfect  accuracy  from  beginning  to  end.  This 
he  had  not  been  taught  in  his  youth,  although  he  had 
read  it  carefully  before  committing  himself  to  Presby- 
terianism.  He  considered  it  a  model  of  sound  doc- 
trine, as  he  did  also  the  Confession  of  Faith ;  but  his 
chief  study  was  the  Bible  itself,  which  was  truly  ''  a 
lamp  unto  his  feet,  and  a  light  unto  his  path." 

After  boarding  more  than  a  year,  he  finalh^  suc- 
ceeded in  ])urchasing  a  house  in  Lexington,  the  only 
available  one  he  could  obtain,  and  it  was  his  intention 
to  sell  it  and  build  one  to  suit  himself  in  the  course  of 
time.  r>ut  unsuitable  as  this  large,  old  house  was  for 
his  small  fjiniily,  it  was  genuine  happiness  to  him  to 
have  a  home  of  his  own :  it  was  the  first  one  he  had 
ever  possessed,  and  it  was  truly  his  castle.     He  lost 


UNDER   OUR  OWN   ROOF-TREE. 


107 


no  time  in  going  to  work  to  repair  it  and  make  it 
comfortable  and  attractive.  His  tastes  were  simple, 
but  he  liked  to  have  everything  in  perfect  order— 
every  door  '*  on  golden  hinges  softly  turning,"  as  he 
expressed  it ;  "a  place  for  everything,  and  everything 
in  its  place ;"  and  under  his  methodical  management 


f^-i^K 


~^^l' 


THE   JACKSON   DWELLING,    LEXINGTON. 

his  household  soon  became  as  regular  and  well-or- 
dered as  it  was  possible  for  it  to  be  with  negro  ser- 
vants. His  furniture  was  very  plain,  though  of  ex- 
cellent materials;  but  simplicity  itself  marked  every 
article.  A  lady  said  it  was  just  lier  idea  of  a  Chris- 
tian home.  He  believed  in  providing  his  family  with 
every  comfort  and  convenience,  for  which  he  spared 


lOS  LIFK   OF   GENERAL    THOMAS   J.  JACKSON". 

no  expense.  He  was  intensely  fond  of  his  home,  and 
it  was  there  he  found  his  greatest  happiness.  There 
all  that  was  best  in  his  nature  shone  forth,  shedding 
sweetness  and  light  over  his  household. 

Those  uho  knew  General  Jackson  only  as  they  saw 
him  in  public  would  have  found  it  hard  to  believe  that 
there  could  be  such  a  transformation  as  he  exhibited 
in  his  domestic  life.  He  luxuriated  in  the  freedom 
and  liberty  of  his  home,  and  his  buoyancy  and  joyous- 
ness  of  nature  often  ran  into  a  playfulness  and  ahan- 
don  that  would  have  been  incredible  to  those  who 
saw  him  only  when  he  put  on  his  official  dignity. 
The  overflowing  sunshine  of  his  heart  was  a  reflection 
from  the  Sun  of  Eighteousness,  and  he  always  said 
we  could  not  love  an  earthly  creature  too  much  if  we 
only  loved  God  more.  He  was  generous  but  unosten- 
tatious in  his  mode  of  living,  and  nothing  gave  him 
more  pleasure  than  to  welcome  his  friends  to  his  sim- 
ple and  hospitable  home.  He  particularly  delighted 
ill  entertaining  ministers  of  the  Gospel. 

His  garden  was  a  source  of  very  great  pleasure  to 
him  :  he  worked  in  it  a  great  deal  with  his  own  hands, 
and  cultivated  it  in  quite  a  scientific  way.  He  stud- 
ied Buist's  K'dfJien  Garden^  and  had  an  elaborate  cal- 
enchir  fur  planting,  whicli  was  given  him  by  an  en- 
thusiastic brother-officer  iu  the  army.  So  successful 
was  he  as  a  gardener  tliat  he  raised  more  vegetables 
than  his  family  could  consume.  His  early  training 
ujxjn  his  uncle's  farm  had  instilled  into  him  a  love  for 
rural  pursuits,  and  it  was  not  long  until  he  gratified 
his  desire  to  possess  a  little  farm  of  his  own,  which 
embraced  twenty  acres  near  town.  Here,  with  the 
aid  of  his  negroes,  he  raised  wheat,  corn,  and  other 


ORDER  OF  THE  DAYS  DUTIES.         109 

products,  and  every  year  his  crops  and  land  improved 
under  his  dihgent  care.  This  farm  he  sold  during  the 
war,  and  invested  the  proceeds  in  Confederate  bonds 
to  assist  the  government. 

His  life  at  home  was  perfectly  regular  and  system- 
atic. He  arose  about  six  o'clock,  and  first  knelt  in 
secret  prayer ;  then  he  took  a  cold  bath,  which  was 
never  omitted  even  in  the  coldest  days  of  winter. 
This  was  followed  by  a  brisk  walk,  in  rain  or  shine 
(for  with  a  pair  of  india-rubber  cavalry  boots  and  a 
heavy  army  overcoat  he  was  independent  of  the  weath- 
er), and  he  returned,  looking  the  picture  of  freshness 
and  animation. 

Seven  o'clock  was  the  hour  for  family  prayers, 
which  he  required  all  his  servants  to  attend  prompt- 
ly and  regularly.  He  never  waited  for  any  one,  not 
even  his  wife. 

Breakfast  followed  prayers,  after  which  he  left  im- 
mediately for  the  Institute,  his  classes  opening  at 
eight  o'clock  and  continuing  until  eleven.  He  was 
engaged  in  teaching  only  three  hours  a  day,  except 
for  a  few  weeks  before  the  close  of  the  session,  when 
the  artillery  practice  demanded  an  additional  hour 
in  the  afternoon.  Upon  his  return  home  at  eleven 
o'clock,  he  devoted  himself  to  study  until  one.  The 
first  book  he  took  up  daily  was  his  Bible,  which  he 
read  with  a  commentary,  and  the  many  pencil-marks 
upon  it  showed  with  what  care  he  bent  over  its  pages. 
From  his  Bible  lesson  he  turned  to  his  text-books, 
which  engaged  him  until  dinner,  at  one  o'clock.  Dur- 
ing these  hours  of  study  he  would  not  permit  any  in- 
terruption, and  stood  all  that  time  in  front  of  a  high 
desk,  which   he  had  had   made  to  order,  and  upon 


XIO     LIKE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

which  he  kept  his  books  and  stationery.  After  din- 
ner lie  gave  himself  up  for  half  an  hour  or  more  to 
leisure  and  conversation,  and  this  was  one  of  the 
brightest  periods  in  the  home  life.  He  then  went 
into  his  garden,  or  out  to  his  farm  to  superintend  his 
servants,  and  frequently  joined  them  in  manual  labor. 
He  would  often  drive  me  out  to  the  farm,  and  find  a 
shady  spot  for  me  under  the  trees,  while  he  attended 
to  the  work  of  the  field.  AYhen  this  was  not  the  case, 
he  always  returned  in  time  to  take  me,  if  the  weather 
permitted,  for  an  evening  walk  or  drive.  In  summer 
we  often  took  our  drives  by  moonlight,  and  in  that 
beautiful  Valley  of  Virginia  the  queen  of  night  seemed 
to  shine  with  more  brightness  than  anywhere  else; 
but.  leaving  all  romance  out  of  the  question,  there 
could  be  no  more  delightful  wa.y  of  spending  the  long 
summer  evening.  When  at  home,  he  would  indulge 
himself  in  a  season  of  rest  and  recreation  after  supper, 
thinking  it  was  injurious  to  health  to  go  to  work  im- 
mediately. As  it  was  a  rule  with  him  never  to  use  his 
eyes  by  artificial  light,  he  formed  the  habit  of  study- 
ino-  raentallv  for  an  hour  or  so  without  a  book.  After 
going  over  his  lessons  in  the  morning,  he  thus  re- 
viewed them  at  night,  and  in  order  to  abstract  his 
thoughts  from  surrounding  objects — a  habit  which  he 
had  cultivated  to  a  remarkable  degree — he  would,  if 
alone  with  his  wife,  ask  that  he  might  not  be  dis- 
turbed by  any  conversation,  and  he  would  then  take 
his  seat  with  his  face  to  the  wall,  and  remain  in 
perfect  abstraction  until  he  finished  his  mental  task, 
when  he  would  emerge  with  a  bright  and  cheerful 
face  into  social  enjoyment  again.  He  was  very  fond 
of  beinff  read  to.  and  much  of  our  time  in  the  even- 


HIS   "STUDY"   AT   HOME.  1X1 

ings  was  passed  in  my  ministering  to  him  in  this  way. 
At  first  he  fitted  up  a  study  for  himself,  but  having  no 
children,  he  gradually  came  to  making  our  large,  pleas- 
ant living-room  his  study,  and  finally  moved  his  up- 
right desk  into  it,  having  become  assured  that  he 
would  meet  with  no  interruption,  either  in  his  morn- 
ing work,  or  when  he  sat  with  face  to  the  wall,  as 
silent  and  as  dumb  as  the  sphinx,  reviewing  his  les- 
sons in  the  evening.  He  had  a  library,  which,  though 
small,  was  select,  composed  chiefly  of  scientific,  his- 
torical, and  rehgious  books,  with  some  of  a  lighter 
character,  and  some  in  Spanish  and  French.  Xearly 
all  of  them  w^ere  full  of  his  pencil  marks,  made  with  a 
view  to  future  reference. 

The  few^  years  spent  so  happily  and  peacefully  in 
this  little  home  were  unmarked  by  any  events  important 
to  the  outside  world.  One  little  bud  of  promise  was 
sent  for  a  brief  period  to  awaken  new  hopes  of  do- 
mestic joy  and  comfort,  but  it  pleased  God  to  trans- 
plant it  to  heaven  before  these  hopes  could  be  real- 
ized. The  father,  in  announcing  the  arrival  of  the 
infant  to  its  grandmother,  commences  thus :  ''  Dear 
mother,  w^e  have  in  our  home  circle  a  darling  little 
namesake  of  yours,  and  she  is  a  bright  little  one,  her 
father  being  the  judge.  .  .  ."  And  he  concludes  by  say- 
ing :  '•  I  hope  it  will  not  be  many  years  before  our  little 
Mary  Graham  will  be  able  to  send  sweet  little  mes- 
sages to  you  all."  The  child  hved  only  a  few  weeks, 
and  its  loss  was  a  great,  very  great,  sorrow  to  him. 
But  here,  as  always,  religion  subdued  every  murmur. 
Great  as  was  his  love  for  children,  his  spirit  of  sub- 
mission was  greater,  and  even  in  this  bitter  disappoint- 
ment he  bowed  uncomplaining  to  his  Father's  will. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

HOME   LIFE   CONTINUED— 1858-1859. 

TiiK  summer  of  1S5S  wus  ushered  in  witlx  sorrow, 
brintring  my  first  taste  of  bitter  bereavement.  Soon 
after  the  loss  of  our  first-born,  another  crushing  stroke 
came  in  the  death  of  my  sister  Eugenia,  who  had  always 
been  to  me  like  a  twin  sister,  so  united  and  happy  had 
been  our  early  lives  together.  She  left  two  little  chil- 
dren motherless,  and  I  was  not  permitted  to  be  with 
her  at  the  time  of  her  death  ;  so  it  seemed  as  if  my  cup 
of  trial  was  full.  But  all  that  love  and  sympathy  could 
suggest  to  alleviate  a  first  grief  was  done  for  me  by 
my  good  husband,  and  his  own  beautiful  example  of 
resignation  and  cheerfulness  was  a  rebuke  to  me. 

That  summer  was  spent  at  the  Xorth.  He  was 
never  willing  to  be  separated  from  his  wife,  unless 
duty  or  necessity  required  it — his  desire  being  to  share 
his  every  pleasure  with  her,  without  whom  it  would 
not  be  complete.  His  vacations  were  seasons  of  great 
recreation  and  enjoyment  to  him.  He  Avas  fond  of 
travelling,  and  liked  the  bracing  climate  of  the  Xorth- 
ern  States.  AVhen  worn  down  by  the  labors  of  his 
professorship, he  used  to  say  that  he  had  "a  periodical 
longing  to  go  North,"  and  this  he  gratified  every  sum- 
mer after  our  marriage,  until  the  beginning  of  the  war. 
He  always  returned  home  much  refreshed  and  bene- 
fited bv  these  excursions. 


IN   THE   CITY   OF   NEW   YORK.  II3 

He  had  never  visited  Fortress  Monroe,  and  he  seemed 
to. think  that  was  a  duty  he  owed  liimself;  so  this 
summer  of   1S5S  we  took   that   point   in   our  route, 
and  spent  a  few  days  there — he  passing  much  of  his 
time  in  the  fort,  and  acquainting  himself  with  every 
part  of  it.     We  then  went  by  steamer  to  Cape  May, 
where  he  luxuriated  in  the  surf  bathing.     Another 
delightful  trip  by  steamer  took  us  to  New  York,  where 
we  spent  several  weeks,  for  the  purpose  of  having  his 
throat  treated  by  a  specialist.     He  was  affected  ^vith 
a  sho'ht  bronchial  trouble,  but  was  not  at  all  an  invalid 
in  any  other  respect.     While  in  the  city,  a  part  of  each 
day  was  devoted  to  sight-seeing.     He  generally  went 
out  alone  in  the  morning  on  an  exploring  expedition, 
being  an  indefatigable  walker,  and  then  he  would  re- 
turn and  take  me  to  the  places  which  he  thought 
would  most  interest  me.     Thus  the  time  was  passed 
most  agreeably  in  driving  and  seeing  every  place  of 
interest  in  and  around  the  city.     The  Diisseldorf  Art 
Gallery  was  a  favorite  place  of  resort,  for  Avhile  he 
had  but  httle  knowledge  of  art,  he  had  a  natural  love 
for  it.     After  spending  the  mornings  in  this  way,  he 
enjoyed  nothing  so  much  in  the  evenings  as  to  stay 
quietly  at  home  and  have  me  read  to  him.    This  sum- 
mer was  devoted  to  Shakespeare,  and  he  was  a  most 
attentive  and  appreciative  listener.     Whenever  a  pas.- 
sage   struck  him,  he   would  say,  "Mark  that,"  and 
many  were  the  interruptions  of  this  kind.     The  even- 
ings   were    sometimes    varied    by   attending    a   con- 
cert. 

The  opening  of  the  fall  term  of  the  Military  Insti- 
tute always  found  him  at  his  post,  and  our  return 
home  was  a  joyful  time  both  to  us  and  our  domestics. 
8 


114     LIFE  OF  GEXERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

As  these  servants  Avill  frequently  be  mentioned  in 
his  letters,  a  short  account  of  them  may  not  be  un- 
interesting:. The  first  slave  he  ever  owned  was  a  man 
named  Albert,  who  came  to  him  and  begged  that  he 
would  buy  him  on  the  condition  that  he  might  be  per- 
mitted to  emancipate  himself  by  a  return  of  the  pur- 
chase-money, as  he  would  be  able  to  pay  it  in  annual 
instalments.  Major  Jackson  granted  his  request,  al- 
though he  had  to  wait  several  years  before  the  debt 
could  be  paid,  and  my  impressi(jn  is  that  it  was  not 
fully  paid  when  the  war  broke  out.  This  man,  Al- 
bert, hired  himself  as  a  hotel-waiter,  and  was  never 
an  inmate  of  our  family,  except  on  one  occasion,  when 
he  had  a  long  spell  of  illness,  and  his  master  took  him 
to  his  home  to  care  for  him  as  an  act  of  humanity,  for 
Albert  had  no  family  of  his  own.  Every  morning  my 
husband  paid  him  a  call  to  see  how  he  was  getting 
along  and  what  he  needed ;  and  one  morning,  as  he 
came  in  from  one  of  these  visits,  his  face  was  so  con- 
vulsed with  laughter  that  he  had  to  drop  into  a  seat 
and  give  full  vent  to  the  explosion  before  he  was  able 
to  explain  the  cause  of  it.  Albert  had  been  committed 
to  the  ministrations  of  our  two  maid  -  servants,  with 
the  expectation  that  he  would  be  well  cared  for  by 
these  colored  sisters ;  but  probably  he  was  not  grate- 
ful enough  for  their  services,  or  their  tender  mercies 
towards  him  may  have  grown  cruel.  At  all  events, 
he  complained  of  their  neglect  and  ill-treatment,  which 
he  summed  up  by  saying  that  he  ''had  never  heen  so 
hedevilled  hy  tico  icomen  in  Ms  life  /"  It  Avas  this 
disgusted  and  dolorous  recital  of  his  woes  that  had 
amused  the  major  so  intensely. 

The  next  servant  that  came  into  his  possession  was 


HIS   SERVANTS.— DEATH   OF   "AUXT   AMY."  II5 

an  old  woman,  xVniy,  who  was  about  to  be  sold  for 
debt,  and  who  sought  from  him  a  deliverance  from 
her  troubles.  This  was  some  time  before  our  marriage, 
when  he  had  no  use  for  her  services;  but  his  kind 
heart  was  moved  by  her  situation,  and  he  yielded  to 
her  entreaties,  and  gave  her  a  home  in  a  good,  Chris- 
tian family,  until  he  had  one  of  his  own.  She  proved 
her  gratitude  by  serving  him  faithfully.  She  was  one 
of  the  best  of  colored  cooks,  and  was  a  real  treasure 
to  me  in  my  new  experience  as  a  housekeeper.  After 
our  home  was  broken  up  by  the  Avar,  old  Aunt  Amy 
languished  and  died  in  the  house  of  a  colored  woman 
in  Lexington,  her  master  paying  all  her  expenses  of 
board,  medical  attendance,  and  comforts.  She  was 
not  suffered  to  want  for  anything,  a  kind  friend  then 
looking  after  her,  at  his  request,  and  providing  for  her 
suitable  burial. 

Hardly  had  this  poor  old  servant  breathed  her  last 
when  the  friend  who  had  been  engaged  to  care  for 
her  wrote  to  General  Jackson  to  inform  him  of  her 
death.  And  though  he  was  then  in  the  field,  with 
other  things  to  think  of,  he  said  the  reading  of  it 
"  moved  him  to  tears."     In  it  the  friend  writes  : 

..."  I  could  have  wished  that  your  letter  had 
come  a  few  hours  earlier,  that  poor  Aunt  Amv's 
heart  might  have  been  refreshed  by  the  evidences  of 
your  Christian  remembrance  and  kindness.  Before  it 
reached  me,  she  had  passed  beyond  the  need  of  earth- 
ly aid  or  sympathy,  and  I  do  trust  was  an  adoring, 
wondering  spirit  before  the  Throne.  She  died  last 
night  at  midnight  without  any  fear,  and,  as  I  believe, 
w4th  a  simple  reliance  on  Jesus  for  salvation.     It  was 


11  r»  LIFE  OF   GENERAL    THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 

only  the  death  of  a  poor  slave— a  most  insignificant 
tliint'-  in  men's  eyes — and  yet  may  ^ye  not  hope  that 
there  uas  joy  in  heaven  over  another  ransomed  soul 

one  in  Avliom  the  Saviour  saw  the  result  of  'his 

travail'  and  Avas  'satisfied.'  ...  I  called  to  see  her 
a  few  minutes  last  Friday  — found  her  sitting  up, 
though  suffering  much.  She  told  me  that  she  wanted 
to  thank  you  for  that  money,  and  to  let  you  know 
al)out  her.  She  expressed  entire  resignation  to  God's 
will,  and  trust  in  Christ  alone.  ...  I  knew  that  it 
would  be  your  wish  that  she  should  have  a  well-ordered 
bui'ial.  so  Dr.  White  attended,  and  my  servants  tell  me 
that  it  is  many  a  day  since  so  large  a  colored  funeral 
has  been  seen  in  Lexington.  It  may  seem  very  need- 
less to  write  so  minutely  about  a  poor  old  servant,  but 
I  am  sure  your  true  Christian  feeling  will  appreciate 
all  that  I  have  told  you  of  the  humble  faith  of  this 
saved  soul,  gathered  from  your  own  household.  The 
cup  of  cold  Avater  you  have  ministered  to  this  poor 
disciple  may  avail  more  in  the  Master's  eye  than  all 
the  brilliant  deeds  with  which  you  may  glorify  your 
country's  battle-fields.  So  differently  do  man  and  his 
Maker  judge  I" 

Hetty,  our  chandjcrnuiid  and  laundress,  was  an  im- 
portation from  North  Carolina.  She  had  been  my 
nurse  in  infancy,  and  from  this  fact  there  had  always 
existed  between  us  a  bond  of  mutual  interest  and  at- 
tachment. As  she  wished  to  live  with  me,  my  father 
transferred  to  me  the  ownership  of  herself  and  her  two 
boys.  Hetty  was  sent  as  a  nurse  to  our  first  child, 
from  her  ])lantation-home  in  North  Carolina  to  Lex- 
ington, and   made   the  journey  all   alone,  which   was 


HETTY  AND  HER  BOYS.  117 

quite  a  feat  for  one  so  inexperienced  as  a  ••'  corn-field 
hand,"  in  which  capacity  she  had  served  for  years. 
After  travelling  by  stage-coach  and  railroad  as  far  as 
Eichmond  (aUhough  she  did  not  go  down  into  South 
Carolina,  around  Eobin  Hood's  Barn,  and  back  again 
into  North  Carolina,  as  my  sister  Eugenia  and  I  had 
done),  she  had  to  change  cars,  and  being  sorely  be- 
wildered in  finding  her  train,  she  was  asked  Avhere 
she  was  going,  and  her  discouraged  reply  was  :  "  Why, 
I'm  going  to  Virginia^  but  the  Lord  knows  whether 
I'll  ever  get  there  or  not !"  She  did,  however,  turn 
up  all  right  at  the  end  of  her  destination,  and  was  so 
rejoiced  at  finding  her  young  mistress  at  last  that  her 
demonstrations  were  quite  touching,  as  she  laughed 
and  cried  by  turns. 

That  she  was  fully  equal  to  taking  care  of  herself 
is  instanced  by  the  following :  On  her  return  to  Xorth 
Carolina  during  the  war,  she  was  again  travelling  alone, 
and  while  changing  trains  she  saw  a  man  pick  up  her 
little,  old  hair  trunk — her  own  personal  property,  con- 
taining all  her  valuables — and  suspecting  his  honesty, 
with  a  determination  to  stand  up  for  her  rights,  she 
called  out  to  him  peremptorily :  "  Put  down  that 
trui)k  ;  that^s  General  Jacksonh  truiik.  P^ 

Hetty  was  an  energetic,  impulsive,  quick-tempered 
woman,  with  some  fine  traits,  but  inclined  to  self- 
assertion,  particularly  as  she  felt  her  importance  in 
being  so  much  the  senior  of  her  new  master  and  mis- 
tress. But  she  soon  realized,  from  the  spirit  Avhicli 
''  commanded  his  household  after  him,"  that  her  only 
course  must  be  that  of  implicit  obedience.  After  learn- 
ing this  lesson  she  toned  down  into  a  well-mannered, 
useful  domestic,  and  indeed  she  became  a  factotum  in 


11^  LIFK   OF   (lEXERAL    THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 

the  household,  rendering  valuable  service  in  the  house, 
garden,  and  u\)(m  the  farm.  The  latter,  however,  Avas 
her  favoi'ite  held  of  labor,  for  the  freedom  of  the 
country  was  as  sweet  to  her  as  to  the  birds  of  the  air. 
JShe  Ijecame  devoted  to  her  master,  was  the  nurse  to 
his  infant  child  at  the  time  of  his  death,  and  was  a 
sincere  mourner  for  him,  her  tears  flowing  freely; 
and  she  said  she  had  lost  her  best  friend. 

Hetty's  two  boys,  Cyrus  (called  Cy)  and  George,  be- 
tween the  ages  of  twelve  and  sixteen,  were  pure,  una- 
(hdterated  Africans,  and  ^lajor  Jackson  used  to  say 
that  if  these  boys  were  left  to  themselves  they  would 
])e  sure  to  go  back  to  barbarism ;  and  yet  he  was  tm- 
wearying  in  his  efforts  to  elevate  them.  At  his  re- 
(juest  I  taught  them  to  read,  and  he  required  them  to 
attend  regularly  family  worship,  Sunday-school,  and 
church.  He  was  a  very  strict  but  kind  master,  giv- 
ing to  his  servants  "  that  which  is  just  and  equal,"  but 
exacting  of  them  prompt  obedience.  lie  thought  the 
best  rule  for  both  parents  and  masters  Avas,  after  mak- 
ing prohibitory  laws  and  knowing  they  Avere  under- 
stood, never  to  threaten,  but  punish,  for  first  offences, 
and  make  such  an  impression  that  the  offence  would 
not  be  repeated. 

When  a  servant  left  a  room  without  closing  the 
door,  lie  would  wait  until  he  had  reached  the  kitchen, 
and  then  call  him  back  to  sliut  it,  thereby  giving  him 
extra  trouble,  which  generally  insured  his  remembrance 
tlie  next  time.  Ills  training  made  the  coloi*ed  servants 
as  ])olite  and  ])unctual  as  that  race  is  capable  of  being, 
and  liis  system  soon  showed  its  good  effects.  They 
realized  that  if  they  did  their  duty  they  woidd  receive 
the  best  of  treatment  from  liini.    At  Christmas  he  was 


LITTLE   EMMA.  119 

generous  in  presents,  and  frequently  gave  them  small 
sums  of  money. 

There  was  one  other  little  servant  in  the  famih^, 
named  Emma,  whom  the  master  took  under  his  shel- 
tering roof  at  the  solicitation  of  an  aged  lady  in  town, 
to  whom  the  child  became  a  care  after  having  been 
left  an  orphan.  The  arrangement  was  made  during 
my  absence  from  home,  and  without  my  knowledge, 
my  husband  thinking  that,  although  Emma  was  of  the 
tender  age  of  only  four  years,  she  would  make  a  nice 
little  maid  for  me  in  the  future.  On  my  return  he 
took  great  pleasure  in  surprising  me  with  this  new 
present,  which,  by  the  way,  proved  rather  a  trouble- 
some one  at  first,  but  Avitli  the  lapse  of  time  she  be- 
came useful,  though  never  a  treasure.  She  was  not 
bright,  but  he  j)ersevered  in  drilling  her  into  memor- 
izing a  child's  catechism,  and  it  was  a  most  amusing 
picture  to  see  her  standing  before  him  with  fixed  at- 
tention, as  if  she  were  straining  every  nerve,  and  recit- 
ing her  answers  with  the  drop  of  a  courtesy  at  each 
word.  She  had  not  been  taught  to  do  this,  but  it  was 
such  an  effort  for  her  to  learn  that  she  assumed  this 
motion  involuntarily. 

The  other  animate  possessions  of  the  family  were  a 
good-looking  horse  (named,  from  his  color.  Bay),  two 
splendid  milch  cows,  and  a  lot  of  chickens.  Bay  was 
also  bought  during  my  absence,  and  after  coming  to 
meet  me  at  Goshen  with  a  horse  and  buggy,  on  our 
homeward  ride  I  commented  on  the  nice  appearance 
of  the  horse,  Avhen  my  husband  smilingly  replied :  "  I 
am  very  thankful  that  you  like  him,  for  he  is  your 
own  property."  He  had  a  playful  way  of  applying 
the  pronoun  your  to  all  the  common  possessions  of  the 


l^O      LIFE  OV    GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

family,  and  so  persistently  did  he  practise  this  pleas- 
antry tliat  he  ai)plied  it  to  himself  and  all  his  indi- 
vidual l)elongings,  of  Avhich  he  always  spoke  to  me  as 
'•your  husband,*'  '\vour  cap,'-  "your  house,"  and  even 
"  your  salary  I"  Upon  the  occasion  of  a  visit  from  my 
mother  to  us,  he  went  out  and,  unexpectedly^  to  me, 
l)()U,i:ht  a  rockaway,  saying  she  was  not  strong  enough 
to  walk  all  over  town,  and  he  wanted  her  to  see  and 
tMijoy  everything  while  she  was  with  us. 

A  little  incident  will  show  the  kindness  and  tender- 
ness of  his  heart.  A  gentleman  who  spent  the  night 
with  us  was  accompanied  by  his  daughter,  but  four 
years  of  age.  It  was  the  first  time  the  child  had  been 
separated  from  her  mother,  and  my  husband,  fearing 
she  might  miss  the  watchfulness  of  a  woman's  heart, 
sujrcrested  that  she  should  be  committed  to  my  care 
during  the  night,  but  she  clung  to  her  father.  After 
his  iruests  had  both  sunk  into  slumber,  the  father  was 
aroused  by  some  one  leaning  over  his  little  girl  and 
drawiuG:  the  coverino;  more  closely  around  her.  It 
was  only  his  thoughtful  host,  who  felt  anxious  lest  his 
little  guest  should  miss  her  mother's  guardian  care  un- 
der his  roof,  and  he  could  not  go  to  sleep  himself  until 
he  was  satisfied  that  all  was  well  with  the  child. 

In  his  home  no  man  could  have  been  more  unre- 
strained and  demonstrative,  and  his  buoyancy  and 
sportiveness  were  quite  a  revelation  to  me  when  I 
ijecame  a  sharer  in  the  privacy  of  his  inmost  life. 
These  demonstrations  and  ])layful  endearments  he 
kept  up  as  long  as  he  lived  :  time  seeming  only  to 
intensify  instead  of  diminishing  them. 

One  morning  lie  returned  from  a  very  early  artil- 
lery drill,   for  wliieh  he  had  donned  full   regimentals. 


HIS  ABANDON   IX  HIS   OWN   HOME.  121 

as  it  was  during  commencement  time,  and  lie  never 
looked  more  noble  and  handsome  than  when  he  en- 
tered his  chamber,  sword  in  hand.  He  playfully  be- 
gan to  brandish  the  sword  over  his  Avife's  head,  look- 
ing as  ferocious  and  terrible  as  a  veritable  Bluebeard, 
and  asking  her  if  she  was  not  afraid.  His  acting 
was  so  realistic  that,  for  a  moment,  the  timid  little 
woman  did  quail,  which  he  no  sooner  saw  than  he 
threw  down  his  sword,  and,  in  a  perfect  outburst  of 
glee,  speedily  transformed  himself  into  the  very  an- 
tipode  of  a  wife-killer. 

He  would  often  hide  himself  behind  a  door  at  the 
sound  of  the  approaching  footstep  of  his  wife,  and 
spring  out  to  greet  her  with  a  startling  caress. 

During  the  spring  of  1859  I  was  not  well,  and  as  he 
always  wished  me  to  have  the  best  medical  attention 
the  country  afforded,  he  took  me  to  Xew  York  for 
treatment,  where  I  was  obliged  to  remain  several  weeks. 
As  it  was  the  time  of  his  session,  he  could  not  stay  with 
me,  so  he  had  to  return  to  his  duties  and  spend  all 
those  weeks  by  himself.  It  was  our  first  separation, 
and  our  home  seemed  very  lonely  to  him.  Every  day 
that  a  letter  could  make  the  trip  wiihoiit  travelling  on 
Sunday  he  was  heard  from,  and  I  hope  that  I  do  not 
trespass  in  delicacy  or  propriety  in  permitting  others 
to  see  so  much  of  these  letters  as  will  show  the  abound- 
ing- sweetness  of  his  home-life.  On  his  return,  after 
leaving  me  in  Xew  York,  in  March,  1859,  he  writes  : 


I  c^ot  home  last  nio^ht  in  as  o^ood  health  as  when  I 


gave  my  darling  the  last  kiss.  Hetty  and  Amy  came 
to  the  door  when  I  rang,  but  would  not  open  until  I 
gave  my  name.     Thev  made  much  ado  about  my  not 


122      Lin:  oK  CKXERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

])rinirin,iz:  you  home.  Your  lnis])and  has  a  sad  heart. 
Our  house  h)oks  so  deserted  without  my  esposar 
Home  is  not  home  Avithout  my  httle  dove.  I  love 
to  talk  to  you,  little  one,  as  though  you  were  here, 
and  tell  you  how  much  I  love  you,  but  that  will  not 
o-ive  you  the  news.  .  .  .  During  our  absence  the  ser- 
vants api^ear  to  have  been  faithful,  and  I  am  well 
pleased  with  the  manner  in  which  they  discharged 
their  duties.  George  came  to  me  to-day,  saying  he 
had  iilled  all  the  wood-boxes,  and  asked  permission 
to  go  lishing,  whicli  was  granted.  .  .  .  You  must  be 
cheerful  and  happy,  remembering  that  you  are  some- 
body's sunshine." 

''April  2Tth.  All  your  fruit-trees  are  yielding  fruit 
this  year.  AVhen  George  brought  home  your  cow  this 
morning,  she  was  accompanied  by  one  fine  little  rep- 
resentative of  his  sire,  and  it  would  do  your  heart  good 
to  see  your  big  cow  and  your  little  calf,  and  to  see 
what  a  fine  prospect  there  is  for  an  abundant  supply 
of  milk.  .  .  .  AVe  had  lettuce  for  dinner  to-day  from 
your  hot-bed.  Heretofore  I  have  been  behind  Cap- 
tain Ilayden's  calendar  for  gardening,  which  he  wrote 
out  for  me;  but  this  day  brings  me  up  with  it.  and  I 
hope  hereafter  to  follow  it  closely.  I  have  arranged 
under  each  month  its  programme  for  the  different  days, 
so  I  have  but  to  look  at  the  days  of  the  month,  and 
follow  its  directions  as  they  come."  .  .  . 

*  When  in  Mexico,  he  had  become  so  familiar  with  the  Spanish 
languai^e  that  he  was  constantly  using  Spanisli  words  and  phrases, 
especially  the  terms  of  endearment,  whicli  are  so  musical.  Thus, 
liis  wife  was  always  liis  esposa,  or,  if  he  wished  to  use  the  dimin- 
utive, his  cHpiiHita  (his  little  wife),  while  he  was  her  cxposo — pet 
names  that  recur  constantly  in  his  letters. 


LETTERS   TO   HIS   WIFE.  123 

"  May  Tth.  I  received  only  three  letters  last  week, 
and  have  only  one  so  far  this  week,  but  '  hope  springs 
eternal  in  the  human  breast ;'  so  you  see  I  am  becoming 
quite  poetical  since  listening  to  a  lecture  on  the  subject 
last  evening.  ...  I  send  you  a  flower  from  your  garden, 
and  could  have  sent  one  in  full  bloom,  but  I  thought 
this  one,  which  is  just  opening,  would  be  in  a  better 
state  of  preservation  when  my  little  dove  receives  it. 
You  must  not  give  yourself  any  concern  about  your 
esjposo's  living.  .  .  .  My  little  pet,  your  husband  was 
made  very  happy  at  receiving  two  letters  from  you  and 
learning  that  you  were  improving  so  rapidly.  1  have 
more  than  once  bowed  down  on  my  knees,  and  thanked 
our  kind  and  merciful  Heavenly  Father  for  the  pros- 
pect of  restoring  vou  to  health  again.  Xow,  don't 
get  impatient,  and  come  off  before  you  are  entirely 
well.  .  .  .  Yesterday  Doctor  Junkin  preached  one  of 
his  masterly  sermons  on  the  sovereignty  of  God,  and, 
although  a  doctrinal  discourse,  it  was  eminently  con- 
soling ;  and  I  wish  that  you  could  have  heard  such  a 
presentation  of  the  subject.  To-day  I  rode  your  horse 
out  to  your  lot  and  saw  your  laborers.  They  are  do- 
ing good  work.  I  was  mistaken  about  your  large  gar- 
den fruit  being  peaches,  they  turn  out  to  be  apricots ; 
and  just  think— my  little  woman  has  a  tree  full  of 
them  I  You  must  come  home  before  they  get  ripe. 
You  have  the  greatest  show  of  flowers  I  have  seen 
this  year.  Enclosed  are  a  few  specimens.  Our  pota- 
toes are  coming  up.  We  have  had  very  uncommonly 
drv  weather  for  nearlv  a  fortnio:ht,  and  your  garden 
had  been  thirsting  for  rain  till  last  evening,  when  the 
weather  commenced  changing,  and  to-day  we  have 
had  some  rain.     Through  grace  given  me  from  above. 


124      I^il-'E  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

I  felt  that  the  rain  would  come  at  the  right  time,  and 
I  don't  recollect  having  ever  felt  so  grateful  for  rain 
as  for  the  present  one.  .  .  .  You  must  not  be  dis- 
couraaed  at  the  slowness  of  recovery.  Look  up  to 
Him  who  giveth  liberally  for  faith  to  be  resigned  to 
His  divine  will,  and  trust  Him  for  that  measure  of 
health  which  will  most  glorify  Him  and  advance  to 
the  greatest  extent  your  own  real  happiness.  AVe  are 
sometimes  suffered  to  be  in  a  state  of  perplexity,  that 
our  faith  may  be  tried  and  grow  stronger.  'All 
things  work  together  for  good '  to  God's  children.  See 
if  you  cannot  spend  a  short  time  after  dark  in  looking 
(jut  of  your  window  into  space,  and  meditating  upon 
heaven,  with  all  its  joys  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory; 
and  think  of  what  the  Saviour  relinquished  in  glory 
when  he  came  to  earth,  and  of  his  sufferings  for  us ; 
and  seek  to  realize,  with  the  apostle,  that  the  afflictions 
of  the  present  life  are  not  worthy  to  be  compared 
with  the  glory  which  shall  be  revealed  in  us.  Try  to 
look  up  and  be  cheerful,  and  not  desponding.  Trust 
our  kind  Heavenly  Father,  and  by  the  eye  of  faith 
see  that  all  tilings  with  you  are  right  and  for  your 
best  interest.  The  clouds  come,  pass  over  us,  and  are 
followed  ])y  l^right  sunshine ;  so,  in  God's  moral  deal- 
ings with  us,  he  ])ermits  us  to  have  trouble  awhile. 
But  let  us,  even  in  the  most  trying  dispensations  of 
His  ])rovidence,  be  cheered  by  the  brightness. which 
is  a  little  ahead.  Try  to  live  near  to  Jesus,  and  secure 
that  peace  which  flows  like  a  river.  You  have  your 
husband's  prayers,  symjiathy,  and  love.  .  .  . 

'*  I  am  so  glad  and  thankful  that  you  received  the 
draft  and  letters  in  time.  How  kind  is  God  to  His 
children  !     I  feelso  tliaiikful  to  Ilim  that  lie  lias  blessed 


LETTERS  TO   HIS  WIFE.  125 

me  with  so  much  faith,  though  I  well  know  that  I 
have  not  that  faith  which  it  is  my  privilege  to  have. 
But  I  have  been  taught  never  to  despair,  but  to  wait, 
expecting  the  blessing  at  the  last  moment.  Such  oc- 
currences should  strengthen  our  faith  in  Him  who 
never  slumbers.  ...  I  trust  that  our  Heavenly 
Father  is  restoring  my  darling  to  health,  and  that 
when  she  gets  home  she  will  again  be  its  sunshine. 
Your  husband  is  looking  forward  with  great  joy  to 
seeino^  her  brio:ht  little  face  in  her  own  home  once 
more.  If  you  should  be  detained  longer,  1  will  send 
3^ou  some  summer  clothing,  but  get  everything  that 
is  necessary  there.  I  sent  you  a  check  in  order  that 
you  may  have  ample  funds.  I  know  how  embarrass- 
ing it  is  even  to  anticipate  scarcity  of  money  when 
one  is  away  from  home.  You  are  one  darling  of  dar- 
linofs,  and  mav  our  kind  and  merciful  Heavenlv  Father 
bless  you  with  speedy  restoration  to  health  and  to 
me,  and  with  every  needful  blessing,  both  temporal 
and  spiritual,  is  my  oft-repeated  prayer.  Take  good 
care  of  my  little  dove,  and  remember  that  the  day  of 
miracles  is  past,  and  that  God  works  bv  means,  and 
He  punishes  us  for  violating  his  physical  as  well  as 
His  moral  laws.  When  you  come  home,  I  want  to 
meet  you  at  Goshen  in  a  private  conveyance,  and  bring 
my  little  one  gently  over  the  rough  roads.  I  hope 
you  will  take  my  advice,  and  not  burden  yourself  by 
carrying  an3^thing  in  your  hands,  except  your  um- 
brella and  basket.  You  are  very  precious  to  one 
somebod3^'s  heart,  if  you  are  away  off  in  I\"ew  York. 
My  heart  is  with  my  esposita  all  the  time,  and  my 
prayers  are  for  her  safety.  How  I  wish  you  were  here 
now  to  share  with  me  the  pleasures  of  home,  our  garden, 


126  LIFE   OF   CJEXERAL  THOMAS   J,  JACKSOX. 

and  the  surrounding  country,  which  is  clothed  in  verd- 
ure and  beauty  !  .  .  .  On  AVednesday  your  esposo  hopes 
to  meet  his  sunshine,  and  may  he  never  see  its  bright- 
ness obscured,  nor  its  brilliancy  diminished  by  spots  I" 

The  reader  will  see  how  freely  he  used  the  Span- 
ish pet  names.  In  some  of  his  letters  he  Avould  string 
toirether  a  dozen  or  more  of  them  —  the  ''linked 
sweetness  long  drawn  out " — at  once  in  playfulness 
and  as  the  overflow  of  a  heart  full  of  tenderness. 
But  this  sportiveness  and  buoyancy  of  temperament 
were  known  only  in  the  innermost  circle  of  his  home, 
and  from  these  sanctities  the  veil  would  never  have 
been  lifted  except  to  reveal  this  beautiful  phase  of 
his  character. 

In  the  summer  of  the  year  1859,  he  went  to  the 
White  Sulpliur  Springs  for  a  fortnight,  leaving  me 
to  spend  the  time  at  the  Eockbridge  Baths.  The 
railroad  not  being  completed  at  that  time,  he  thought 
the  travel  by  stage-coach  would  be  too  fatiguing  to 
me,  but  he  felt  that  he  needed  the  mineral  waters  of 
the  AVliite  Sulphur.  From  there  he  wrote :  "  This  is 
a  veiy  beautiful  place,  and  I  wish  very  much  that  I 
had  my  dove  here.  I  feel  that  I  must  bring  her  here 
sometime.  She  Avould  enjov  it  greatly,  and  I  should 
enjoy  it  so  much  more  if  she  Avere  with  me.  To- 
morrow, you  know,  was  my  day  to  write,  but  I 
thought  I  would  drop  you  a  line  to-day,  so  that  you 
might  know  the  whereabouts  of  your  husband.  .  .  . 
I  am  tired  of  this  place,  and  wouldn't  give  my  little 
])et  for  all  the  peo]ile  here.  I  want  to  go  and  stay 
with  my  little  woman.  As  yet  I  am  not  certain 
whether  tlie  waters  are  benelicial  to  me.'"  .  .  . 


A   SERMON   OF   DR.  THORNWELL.  127 

^'Aiio-ust  15tli.     Last  nio^lit  I  enioyed  what  I  have 
lontr  desired — listenino^  to  a  sermon  from  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Thornwell,  of  South  Carolina.     He   opened  with  an 
introduction,  setting  forth  the   encouragements   and 
discouragements  under  which  he  spoke.     Among  the 
encouragements,  he  stated  that  the  good  effected  here 
Avould  be  widely  disseminated,  as  there  w^ere  visitors 
from  every  Southern  State.     Following  the  example 
of  the  apostle  Paul,  he  observed  that  whilst  he  felt 
an  interest  in  all,  yet  he  felt  a  special  interest  in  those 
from  his  own  State.     He  spoke  of  the  educated  and 
accomplished  audience  it  was  his  privilege  to  address. 
After  concluding  his  introductory  remarks,  he  took 
his  text  from  Genesis,  seventeenth  chapter,  seventh 
verse,  which  he  presented  in  a  bold,  profound,  and  to 
me  original  manner.     I  felt  what  a  privilege  it  was 
to  listen  to  such  an  exposition  of  God's  truth.     He 
showed  that  in  Adam's  fall  we  had  been  raised  from 
the  position  of  servants  to  that  of  children  of  God. 
He  gave  a  brief  account  of  his  own  difficulties  when 
a  college  student,  in  comprehending  his  relation  to 
God.      He  represented  man  as  a  redeemed  being  at 
the  day  of  judgment,  standing  nearest  to  the  throne, 
the  angels  being  farther  removed.     And  wdiy  ?     Be- 
cause his  Brother  is  sitting  upon  the  throne  he  is  a 
nearer  relation  to  Christ  than  the  angels.     And  his 
righteousness   is   superior  to  that  of  the  angels — his 
being  the  righteousness  of  God  himself.     I  don't  rec- 
ollect having  ever  before  felt  such  love  to  God.      I 
w^as  rather  surprised  at  seeing  so   much  grace  and 
gesture   in   Dr.  Thornwell.      I   hope   and  pray  that 
much  good  will  result  from  this  great  exposition  of 
Bible  truth.  .  .  .  Early  yesterday  morning  the  tables  in 


128  i^I^'E    OF   GENERAL    THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 

the  parlor  were  well  su]ii)lied  with  religious  tracts.  .  .  . 
Time  passes  more  })leasantly  here  than  I  expected. 
]jut  I  want  to  get  back  to  my  esposita^  and  I  never 
want  to  go  to  any  watering-place  without  her  again." 

\w  the  succeeding  autumn  I  paid  a  short  visit  to 
m\'  father  in  North  Carolina,  and  the  following  ex- 
tracts are  from  his  letters  during  that  period  • 

..."  I  am  writing  at  my  desk,  which  I  have  raised 
so  high  that  it  makes  me  stand  straight.  I  Avatered 
your  flowers  this  morning,  and  hoed  another  row  of 
turnips,  and  expect  to  hill  some  of  the  celery  this 
evening.  Your  old  man  at  home  is  taking  good  care 
of  one  somebody's  flower-slips,  and  they  are  looking 
very  nicely.  Yesterday  I  went  into  the  kitchen  and 
sealed  some  jars  of  tomatoes,  and  Hetty  has  put  up 
many  jars  besides,  of  plums  and  other  fruits,  so  that 
we  shall  be  well  supplied  this  winter.  I  hope  they 
will  keep  well.  ...  I  w^as  invited  a  few  days  since  to 

go  to  the  Misses  B 's  and  see  some  pagan  idols 

which  they  had  received.  They  were  mostly  paint- 
ings and  some  other  devices,  but  (piite  interesting. 
Among  the  various  Chinese  curiosities  (for  they  do 
not  all  refer  to  worship)  was  an  image  consisting  of 
a  man  in  miniature  in  a  sitting  posture,  with  long 
ringlets  of  hair  hanging  from  various  parts  of  the 
face.  The  statue  can  be  removed  from  the  chair  in 
which  it  sits,  and  is  the  best-finished  piece  of  w^ork- 
nianship  of  the  kind  that  I  ever  saw  from  a  pagan 
land.  It  was  taken  from  one  of  the  churches  in 
Canton  after  its  capture,  and  is  said  to  have  been 
woi'shippcd. 


THE  JOHN  BROWN  RAID.  129 

"I  hope  that  my  little  somebody  is  feehng  as 
lively  as  a  lark ;"  and  in  another  letter  he  tells  her 
that  he  wants  her  to  be  "as  happy  as  a  spring 
butterfly." 

"  October  17th.  I  have  been  wishing  that  you 
could  see  our  beautiful  forests  in  their  autumnal  glory. 
I  have  been  greatly  enjoying  their  beauty,  but  my 
pleasure  would  be  much  enhanced  if  you  were  with 
me.  I  have  just  been  thinking  how  happy  you  must 
be  in  your  old  home,  and  it  makes  my  heart  happy 
too  to  think  of  the  happiness  of  my  little  darling." 

"  October  29th.  This  morning  I  buried  ninety-nine 
heads  of  your  cabbage  for  winter  use." 

It  was  in  the  fall  of  1859  that  the  celebrated  John 
Brown  raid  was  made  upon  the  government  stores  at 
Harper's  Ferry.  Brown  was  a  fanatic,  w^ho  conceived 
the  idea  that  he  could  raise  an  insurrection  in  the 
South  and  emancipate  the  negroes.  But  he  was  ar- 
rested, convicted,  and  condemned  to  execution.  Fear- 
ing that  an  attempt  might  be  made  to  rescue  him,  the 
Governor  of  Virginia,  Henry  A.  Wise,  ordered  out  the 
troops,  in  which  were  included  the  corps  of  cadets  of 
the  Virginia  Military  Institute,  and  with  their  officers 
at  their  head  they  marched  to  the  place  of  rendezvous. 
The  following  extracts  from  Major  Jackson's  letters 
will  tell  the  part  he  had  to  take  in  the  affair : 

''  Charlestown,  Kov.  28th,  1859. 
"I   reached   here   last   night   in   good   health   and 
spirits.     Seven  of  us  slept  in  the  same  room.     I  am 

9 


130  i^II-'E    OF   GENERAL   TIIUMAS   J.  JACKSON. 

much  more  pleased  than  I  expected  to  be;  the  people 
appear  to  be  very  kind.  There  are  about  one  thou- 
sand troo]is  here,  and  everytliing  is  quiet  so  far.  AVe 
don't  expect  any  trouble.  The  excitement  is  confined 
to  more  distant  points.  Do  not  give  yourself  any  con- 
cern about  me.  I  am  comfortable,  for  a  temporary 
militaiy  i)ost." 

"  December  2d.  John  Brown  was  hung  to-day  at 
about  half-past  eleven  a.  m.  He  behaved  with  un- 
flinching firmness.  The  arrangements  were  well 
made  and  Avell  executed  under  the  direction  of  Colonel 
Smith.  The  gibbet  was  erected  in  a  large  field,  south- 
east of  the  town.  Brown  rode  on  the  head  of  his 
coffin  from  his  prison  to  the  place  of  execution.  The 
coffin  was  of  black  walnut,  enclosed  in  a  box  of  poplar 
of  the  same  shape  as  the  coffin.  He  was  dressed  in 
a  black  frock-coat,  black  pantaloons,  black  vest,  black 
slouch  hat,  white  socks,  and  slippers  of  predominat- 
ing red.  There  was  nothing  around  his  neck  but  his 
shirt  collar.  The  open  wagon  in  which  he  rode  was 
strongly  guarded  on  all  sides.  Captain  AVilliams  (for- 
merly assistant  ])rofessor  at  the  Institute)  marched 
immediately  in  front  of  the  wagon.  The  jailer,  high- 
sheriff,  and  several  others  rode  in  the  same  wamm 
with  the  prisoner.  Brown  had  his  arms  tied  behind 
him,  and  ascended  the  scaffold  with  apparent  cheer- 
fulness. After  reaching  the  top  of  the  platform,  he 
shook  hands  with  several  who  were  standing  around 
liim.  The  sheriff  placed  the  rope  around  his  neck, 
then  threw  a  white  cap  over  his  head,  and  asked  him 
if  he  wished  a  signal  when  all  should  be  ready.  He 
replied  tliat  it  made  no  difference,  provided  he  Avas  not 


EXECUTION   OF   JOHX  BROWN.  131 

kept  waiting  too  long.  In  this  condition  he  stood  for 
about  ten  minutes  on  the  trap-door,  which  Avas  support- 
ed on  one  side  by  hinges  and  on  the  other  (the  south 
side)  by  a  rope.  Colonel  Smith  then  announced  to  the 
sheriff  '  all  ready ' — which  apparently  was  not  com- 
prehended by  him,  and  the  colonel  had  to  repeat  the 
oixler,  Avhen  the  rope  was  cut  by  a  single  blow,  and 
Brown  fell  through  about  five  inches,  his  knees  falling 
on  a  level  Avith  the  position  occupied  by  his  feet  before 
the  rope  was  cut.  With  the  fall  his  arms,  below  the 
elbows,  flcAV  up  horizontally,  his  hands  clinched ;  and 
his  arms  gradually  fell,  but  by  spasmodic  motions. 
There  was  very  little  motion  of  his  person  for  several 
moments,  and  soon  the  Avind  blew  his  lifeless  body  to 
and  fro.  His  face,  upon  the  scaffold,  Avas  turned  a 
little  east  of  south,  and  in  front  of  him  were  the 
cadets,  commanded  by  Major  Gilman.  My  command 
Avas  still  in  front  of  the  cadets,  all  facing  south.  One 
howitzer  I  assigned  to  Mr.  Trueheart  on  the  left  of 
the  cadets,  and  Avith  the  other  I  remained  on  the 
right.  Other  troops  occupied  different  positions  around 
the  scaffold,  and  altogether  it  was  an  imposing  but 
A^ery  solemn  scene.  I  Avas  much  impressed  Avith  the 
thought  that  before  me  stood  a  man  in  the  full  \'igoY 
of  health,  Avho  must  in  a  fcAV  moments  enter  eternity. 
I  sent  up  the  petition  that  he  might  be  saA'ed.  AAvful 
AA^as  the  thought  that  he  might  in  a  few  minutes 
receive  the  sentence,  '  Depart,  ye  Avicked,  into  ever- 
lasting fire !'  I  hope  that  he  Avas  prepared  to  die,  but 
I  am  doubtful.  He  refused  to  have  a  minister  Avith 
him.  His  Avife  visited  him  last  eA^ening.  His  body 
Avas  taken  back  to  the  jail,  and  at  six  o'clock  p.  m. 
Avas  sent  to  his  Avife  at  Harper's  Ferry.     When  it 


X32  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   TiiUMAS   J.  JACKSON. 

arrived,  the  coffin  Avas  opened,  and  his  wife  saw  the 
remains,  after  which  it  was  again  opened  at  the  depot 
before  leaving  for  Baltimore,  lest  there  should  be  an 
imposition.  AVe  leave  for  home  via  Eichmond  to- 
morrow." 

This  Avas  the  only  expedition  after  our  marriage  in 
which  he  accompanied  the  cadets,  until  he  took  them 
to  Eichmond  at  tlie  opening  of  the  war,  in  obedience 
to  the  call  of  the  governor.  Several  trips  were  made 
by  the  corps  to  the  capital  and  to  Xorfolk,  to  grace 
state  occasions ;  but  at  such  times  he  always  requested 
that  he  might  be  permitted  to  have  his  holiday  at 
home,  Avhile  he  lent  his  sword,  epaulets,  and  sashes 
to  his  brother-officers,  who  were  more  fond  of  display. 

The  next  letter  is  to  his  aunt,  Mrs.  Xeale,  of  Parkers- 
burg  : 

"Lexington,  Va.,  Jan.  21st,  18G0. 

^'I  am  living  in  my  own  house,  I  am  thankful  to 
say,  as,  after  trying  both  public  and  private  boarding, 
I  have  learned  from  experience  that  true  comfort  is 
onlv  to  be  found  in  a  house  under  your  own  control. 
1  wisli  you  could  pay  me  a  visit  during  some  of  your 
leisure  intervals,  if  you  ever  have  such.  This  is  a 
l)eautiful  country',  just  on  the  confines  of  the  Virginia 
Springs,  and  we  are  about  fourteen  miles  from  the 
Natural  Bridge.  .  .  .  What  do  vou  tiiink  about  the 
state  of  the  country?  Viewing  things  at  Washington 
from  liuman  ap])earances,  I  think  we  have  great  reason 
for  alarm.  ])ut  my  trust  is  in  (iod ;  and  I  cannot  think 
that  he  will  permit  the  madness  of  men  to  interfere 
so  materially  Avith  tlie  Christian  labors  of  this  country 
at  home  and  abroad."" 


CHAPTER  IX. 

WAR   CLOUDS— 18G0-1 861. 

Major  Jackson's  vacation  in  the  summer  of  1860 
was  spent  in  Xew  England — at  Northampton,  Massa- 
chusetts. This  was  once  the  home  of  Jonathan  Eel- 
wards,  and  a  large  old  elm-tree  which  was  planted 
by  him  is  still  standing  as  a  memorial  of  the  great 
American  theologian.  In  the  old  burying-ground,  a 
time-AYorn,  moss-covered  tombstone  bears  the  name 
of  the  saintly  David  Brainerd.  On  Eound  Ilill  is  a 
hydropathic  establishment,  which  attracted  Major 
Jackson  there.  The  hotel  is  built  upon  an  elevation 
overlooking  the  town — the  Connecticut  Eiver  winding 
through  the  loveliest  of  emerald  valleys,  with  fine 
mountain  scenery,  embracing  Mount  Tom  and  Mount 
Ilolyoke  —  all  together  forming  a  landscape  which 
Jenny  Lind  thought  one  of  the  most  beautiful  she 
had  seen  in  America. 

The  climate  also  is  bracing  and  delightful,  and  there 
was  much  to  contribute  to  our  enjoyment,  notwith- 
standing the  inhospitable  elements  which  Southerners 
felt  in  the  Xorth  at  that  time  of  great  political  ex- 
citement. As  it  was  the  summer  before  Mr.  Lincoln's 
election,  Major  Jackson  heard  and  saw  enough  to 
awaken  his  fears  that  it  might  portend  civil  war ;  but 
he  had  no  dispute  with  those  who  differed  from  him, 
treating  all  politely,  and  made  some  pleasant  acquaint- 


134      Lll-'i^  <^>^'  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

ances,  among  tliein  a  Baptist  minister,  avIio  often 
joined  us  in  our  walks,  when  tiie  conversations  Avere 
always  friendly.  To  our  surprise,  one  day  the  wife 
of  a  gentleman  from  South  Carolina  repoi-ted  that 
her  husband  had  had  a  violent  political  dispute  Avith 
this  same  minister,  whom  we  had  found  so  courteous. 
Although  he  was  an  abolitionist,  and  Major  Jackson 
was  a  slave-holder,  each  had  recognized  in  the  other 
enough  to  be  a  bond  of  union,  and  their  pleasant  re- 
lations continued  as  long  as  they  remained  together. 

In  front  of  the  hotel  was  a  large  grove  of  forest 
trees,  under  which  were  seats  here  and  there,  and 
we  literally  lived  out  of  doors.  In  strolling  through 
this  grove  we  came  upon  a  reservoir,  which  we  ex- 
pected to  see  filled  with  water,  but  to  our  surprise  it 
was  dry,  and  upon  the  floor  were  gambolling  a  large 
number  of  tame  rabbits,  white,  brown,  and  spotted, 
and  guinea-pigs  of  all  sizes  and  ages  —  a  sight  that 
was  quite  an  attraction  to  the  guests  of  the  hotel. 
The  little  animals  were  the  pets  of  the  children  of  the 
proprietor,  and  the  old  reservoir,  having  been  aban- 
doned for  a  much  larger  one,  made  a  secure  and  ex- 
cellent home  for  the  pretty  creatures.  In  these  peace- 
ful surroundings  ]\rajor  Jackson's  health  improved 
wonderfully ;  the  baths  with  the  exercise  gave  in- 
creased fulness  as  well  as  vigor  to  his  manly  frame. 
I  too  was  greatly  benefited  by  this  novel  treatment. 
I  had  gone  there  without  a  particle  of  faith  in 
hydropathy,  but  as  I  was  not  strong,  my  husband 
persuaded  me  to  try  it,  and  it  was  astonishing  how 
rapidly  my  strength  developed.  From  not  being  able 
to  walk  a  mile  upon  my  arrival,  hy  degrees  I  came 
to  walking  five  miles  a  day  with  ease,  and  kept  it  up 


LETTERS  FROM  HOME.  I35 

until  my  departure.  Indeed,  I  proved  such  an  en- 
couraging subject  to  the  skill  of  the  doctor  that  at 
his  suggestion,  but  sorely  against  my  own  Avill,  I  was 
left  behind  for  a  month  after  my  husband  had  to  re- 
turn to  his  professorial  duties.  But  he  "  reported  " 
to  me  as  regularly  as  if  I  were  his  superior  officer, 
though  not  exactly  in  military  style,  but  after  his  do- 
mestic fashion  : 

"  Little  one,  I  must  tell  you  what  is  in  your  gar- 
den. First  and  foremost,  there  is  a  very  long  row  of 
celery :  this  is  due  to  Hetty,  and  I  told  her  that  as 
she  had  succeeded  so  well  I  wouldn't  touch  its  cult- 
ure ;  though  when  it  comes  upon  the  table,  and  my 
little  pet  is  here  to  enjoy  it  with  me,  I  do  not  expect 
to  be  so  chary  of  it.  You  have  also  Lima  beans,  snap 
beans,  carrots,  parsnips,  salsify,  onions,  cabbage,  tur- 
nips, beets,  potatoes,  and  some  inferior  muskmelons. 
Xow,  do  you  think  j^ou  have  enough  vegetables  ?  I 
am  just  thinking  and  thinking  about  that  little  some- 
body away  up  there."' 

When  the  time  arrived  for  me  to  return,  he  would 
have  come  for  me,  but  he  was  so  conscientious  about 
his  duty  that  he  would  not  leave  his  chair  even  for  a 
single  day,  except  in  case  of  absolute  necessity,  and  so 
he  writes  : 

"  September  2oth,  18G0. 

"  In  answer  to  your  question  how  you  are  to  come, 
I  should  say,  with  your  husband,  if  no  other  arrange- 
ment can  be  effected.  If  you  don't  meet  Avith  an 
opportunity  of  an  escort  to  ]^ew  York  or  farther,  see 
if  the  doctor  can't  get  }ou  one  to  Springfield,  upon 


136  I^IFE    OF  GENERAL   THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

the  coiiclitioii  that  you  pay  the  expense.  I  don't 
want  you  to  pass  through  Springfield  alone,  as  you 
have  to  change  cars  there,  and  you  might  meet  with 
some  accident ;  but  as  visitors  invite  the  doctor  to 
make  excursions  with  them,  can't  you  invite  him  to 
make  one  with  you  to  Springfield,  and  after  he  sees 
you  on  the  right  train,  sit  in  the  same  car  until  you 
reach  the  depot  in  Xew  York,  Avhere  you  may  expect 
to  find  your  esjposo  waiting  for  you  ?  J^e  sure  to  write, 
and  also  telegraph,  as  I  would  rather  go  all  the  way 
to  liound  Hill  than  for  you  to  come  through  Spring- 
field alone.  Your  husband  feels  bright,  and  the  light 
of  his  approaching  little  sunshine  makes  him  still 
brighter.  Whenever  you  write  or  telegraph  for  him, 
you  may  expect  him  to  come  for  you  in  double-quick 
time." 


Having  arranged  for  my  escort  to  a  place  within 
driving  distance  of  Lexington,  he  sends  a  last  mes- 


'^  September  28th.  I  expect  to  set  off  with  your 
rockaway  and  "Bay,''  and  you  must  not  be  left  behind. 
You  may  expect  to  have  your  dinner  sent  from  home, 
so  that  in  our  homeward  drive  you  can  eat  your  own 
dinner." 

In  Fel)ruary,  18(>1,  I  left  him  again  for  a  brief 
period,  to  attend  the  wedding  of  my  sister  Susan,  who 
married  Mr.  A.  C.  Avery,  afterwards  a  Justice  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Xorth  Carolina.  A  few  extracts 
will  show  the  character  of  the  letters  that  followed 
me  on  this  trit) : 


LETTERS  FROM   HOME.  137 

"  Home,  February  18th,  1861.  My  precious  little 
darling,  your  husband  has  returned  from  tlie  Insti- 
tute, had  his  dinner  all  alone,  and  feels  sad  enough 
this  afternoon  ;  but  I  trust  that  my  little  pet  has  had 
a  pleasant  day's  travel,  and  that  the  kind  providence 
of  God  has  kept  her  from  all  accident  and  danger, 
and  has  spread  out  before  her  many  enjoyments.  I 
hope  that  you  will  be  greatly  prospered  during  all 
your  absence.  The  day  here  has  been  very  change- 
able, alternating  between  sunshine  and  sno\v.  I  hope 
the  Richmond  weather  is  better,  for  I  have  been, 
thinking  you  might  be  too  much  exposed  in  shopping. 
However,  I  hope  you  have  taken  a  carriage,  if  neces- 
sary, and  have  taken  good  care  of  my  little  one." 

.  .  .  '^  19th.  My  darling  pet,  your  husband  feels  a 
loneliness  for  which  he  can  hardly  account,  but  he 
knows  if  his  darling  were  here  he  wouldn't  feel  thus. 
I  have  been  busy,  but  still  the  feeling  exists.  I  fol- 
low you  in  mind  and  heart,  and  think  of  you  at  the 
different  points  of  your  route." 

''  23d.  I  was  very  thankful  to  our  kind  Heavenly 
Father  for  his  protecting  care  extended  over  my  little 
pet,  as  stated  in  your  letter.  I  do  delight  to  receive 
letters  from  my  little  woman.  If  Sue  is  approach- 
able on  the  Avery  question,  tell  her  she  must  be  very 
litigious  if  she  finds  it  necessary  to  engage  the  ser- 
vices of  a  member  of  the  legal  i)rofession  for  life  I 
Tell  her  we  have  them  here  from  a  mere  tyro  up  to  a 
judge  of  the  Federal  court,  though  do  not  mention  the 
subject  to  her  if  you  think  it  would  be  at  all  unpleasant. 

"  On    Saturday   I    sent    your    boy,    George,    with 


138     LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

your  horse  and  wagon  down  to  Thompson's  landing, 
and  brought  up  a  barrel  of  nice  Richmond  sweet  pota- 
toes. I  have  laid  aside  the  best,  and  hope  they  will 
keep  till  my  little  pet  gets  home. 

'*  AVhat  think  you  (  I  went  down  to  your  hen- 
house yesterday  evening,  jyursu ant  to  orders,  and,  look- 
ing into  the  nests,  found  nine  fresh  eggs  besides  the 
Deai'cr  [a  porcelain  egg  bought  of  a  man  of  that 
name],  and,  appropriating  eight  of  them,  I  returned. 
leaving  one  in  each  nest."' 

'*  Feb.  2Tth.  This  is  a  beautiful  day  here,  and  I  have 
been  thinking  how  blissful  Sue's  married  life  will  be 
if  her  bridal  day  is  its  true  emblem.  .  .  .  'We  had 
quite  a  treat  last  night  in  the  performance  of  a  com- 
pany in  Druidical  costumes,  makhig  exquisite  music 
upon  instruments  constructed  of  ox-horns,  copied  from 
the  Druidical  instruments  in  the  British  Museum." 

'•  March  16th.  Amy  has  gone  to  grace  the  wedding 
of  one  of  her  colored  friends  by  her  imposing  presence. 

George  left  for  C 's  on  the  morning  of  March  1st, 

and  I  haven't  seen  his  delectable  face  since.  I  am 
thankful  to  say  that  everything  is  working  well  at 
home.  I  expect  to  continue  sending  you  letters  as 
long  as  you  stay  away.  You  had  better  come  home  if 
you  want  to  stop  this  correspondence.  I  have  been 
working  to-day  at  your  garden  fence  to  keep  your 
chickens  out,  and  also  to  prevent  egress  and  ingress 
between  our  garden  and  that  of  Sefior  Deaver. 

"Your  peas  are  just  beginning  to  make  their  appear- 
ance above  gi'ound.  .  .  .  The  colored  Sabbath-school 
is  greatly  blessed  in  numbers  and  teachers,  and  is  do- 


SOUTHERX  FEELING   FOR   SECESSION.  I39 

ing  a  good  work.  .  .  .  Your  friends  here  remember 
my  darling  with  much  interest." 

Durino'  this  visit  of  mine  to  Xorth  Carohna,  I  was 
surprised  to  find  the  people  of  that  State  almost  unani- 
mous for  secession,  for  in  my  Virginia  home  the  feel- 
ino^  was  very  much  the  reverse.  After  the  election 
of  Mr.  Lincoln,  South  Carolina  had  boldly  led  off 
in  withdrawing  from  the  Union,  and  was  followed 
by  one  after  another  of  her  sister  States  in  solemn 
procession — including  Mississippi,  Alabama,  Florida, 
Georgia,  Louisiana,  and  Texas.  Afterwards  all  the 
Southern  States,  except  Kentucky,  which  remained 
neutral,  followed  suit ;  and  on  the  9th  of  Februarj^, 
1S61,  the  first  seven  States  formed  a  Confederacy,  and 
established  a  provisional  government  at  Montgomery, 
Alabama.  Jefferson  Davis  was  chosen  President,  and 
Alexander  H.  Stephens  A^ice-President. 

At  this  time  Major  Jackson  was  strongly  for  the 
Union,  but  at  the  same  time  he  was  a  firm  States'- 
rights  man.  In  politics  he  had  always  been  a  Dem- 
ocrat, but  he  was  never  a  very  strong  partisan,  and 
took  no  part  in  the  political  contest  of  1860,  except 
to  cast  his  vote  for  John  C.  Breckinridge,  believing 
that  his  election  would  do  more  to  save  the  Union 
than  that  of  any  other  candidate.  He  never  was  a 
secessionist,  and  maintained  that  it  was  better  for  the 
South  to  fight  for  her  rights  i?i  the  Union  than  out  of 
it.  The  grand  old  State  of  Virginia,  whose  sons  had 
done  more  than  those  of  any  other  State  to  form  tlie 
Constitution  which  drew  all  the  States  under  one  gen- 
eral government,  was  reluctant  to  withdraw  from  it, 
and  was  among  the  last  of  the  Southern  States  to 


140      I^i^'K  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

secede.  South  Carolina,  after  her  secession,  urgently 
solicited  the  Federal  government  for  an  equitable 
settlement  of  the  rights  she  claimed  as  a  State,  and 
especially  demanded  the  possession  of  Fort  Sumter  as 
her  only  fort  for  her  local  protection.  In  reply  to 
this  the  governor  of  the  State  was  informed  by  the 
United  States  government  that  the  garrison  of  the 
fort  would  be  reinforced — '•  peaceal)ly  if  they  could, 
forcibly  if  they  must."  This  Avas  regarded  by  the 
spirited  secessionists  as  a  call  to  arms,  and  they  im- 
mediately bombarded  Fort  Sumter,  which  in  a  short 
time  was  reduced  to  ruins.  President  Lincoln  then 
issued  a  proclamation,  calling  upon  the  States  to  fur- 
nish seventy-five  thousand  men  to  put  down  what  he 
assumed  to  be  a  "  rebellion  "  against  the  only  author- 
ized government  of  the  country. 

Virginia  now  hesitated  no  longer.  On  the  ITth  of 
April  she  seceded,  and  immediately  began  prepara- 
tions for  the  struggle  which  was  inevitable.  After 
the  threat  of  coercion  on  the  part  of  the  Xorth,  the 
South  became  almost  a  unit,  and  the  enthusiasm  with 
which  men  of  all  ages  and  classes  rushed  to  arms  was 
only  equalled  by  that  of  the  women  at  home. 

AVith  his  high  sense  of  duty  and  devotion  to  his 
State,  ]\rajor  Jackson  had  been  deeply  impressed  by 
the  startling  course  of  events,  which  had  developed  in 
such  rapid  succession.  Some  weeks  before  Virginia 
cast  in  her  lot  with  the  Southern  Confederacy,  a 
Peace  Conference  had  been  held  in  AVashington  to 
devise  some  terms  of  mutual  concession.  The  Gen- 
eral Assembly  of  Virginia  had  proposed  this  effort  at 
conciliation,  and  delegates  were  sent  from  both  the 
Free  and  tlie  Slave  States,  but  all  tlivirattein])ts  proved 


APPREHENSIONS    OF   WAR.  141 

vain.  After  the  failure  of  this  Peace  Conference, 
Major  Jackson  called  upon  his  pastor  and  expressed 
these  views:  "If  the  general  government  should  per- 
sist in  the  measures  now  threatened,  there  must  be 
war.  It  is  painful  to  discover  with  what  unconcern 
they  speak  of  war,  and  threaten  it.  They  do  not 
know  its  horrors.  I  have  seen  enough  of  it  to  make 
me  look  upon  it  as  the  sum  of  all  evils."  (However  it 
may  surprise  those  who  knew  him  only  as  a  soldier, 
yet  it  is  true  that  I  never  heard  any  man  express 
such  utter  abhorrence  of  Avar.  I  shall  never  forget 
how  he  once  exclaimed  to  me,  with  all  the  intensity  of 
his  nature,  "  Oh,  how  I  do  deprecate  war !")  "  Should 
the  step  be  taken  which  is  now  threatened,  we  shall 
have  no  other  alternative;  we  must  fight.  But  do 
you  not  think  that  all  the  Christian  people  of  the 
land  could  be  induced  to  unite  in  a  concert  of  prayer 
to  avert  so  great  an  evil  ?  It  seems  to  me  that  if 
they  would  thus  unite  in  prayer,  war  might  be  prevent- 
ed and  peace  preserved.''  His  pastor  fully  concurred 
with  him,  and  promised  to  do  his  utmost  to  bring 
about  the  concert  of  prayer  he  proposed.  "  Mean- 
time," said  he,  "  let  us  agree  thus  to  pray."  In  his 
public  prayers  after  this,  his  most  fervent  petition 
was  that  God  would  preserve  the  whole  land  from 
the  evils  of  war. 

But  while  the  storm  was  gathering  which  was  soon 
to  burst  with  such  fury,  Jackson  exhibited  no  undue 
anxiety — praying  only  the  more  importunately,  if  it 
were  God's  will,  that  it  might  be  averted,  and  that  the 
whole  land  might  be  at  peace. 

In  a  conversation  with  a  friend  he  described  the 
demoralization  of  civil  strife  upon  a  nation,  which  has 


142     LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

since  seemed  sadly  prophetic  of  the  very  evils  that 
have  come  upon  the  country.  But  liis  absohite  trust 
in  the  Ruler  of  all  things  kept  him  from  the  agitation 
and  fear  wliieli  weighed  so  lieavil}^  upon  others.  At 
this  time  the  Rev.  Dr.  J.  J].  Ramsey  visited  him  and 
thus  describes  his  frame  of  mind : 

"  AValking  with  God  in  prayer  and  holy  obedience, 
he  reposed  upon  Ilis  promises  and  pi-ovidence  with  a 
calm  and  untiinching  reliance  beyond  any  man  1  ever 
knew.  I  shall  never  forget  the  manner  and  tone  of 
surprise  and  child-like  contldence  Avith  which  he  once 
spoke  to  me  on  this  subject.  It  was  soon  after  the 
election  in  ISGO,  when  the  country  was  beginning  to 
heave  with  the  agony  and  throes  of  dissolution.  AVe 
had  just  risen  from  morning  prayers  in  his  own  house, 
where  at  that  time  I  was  a  guest.  Filled  with  gloom, 
I  was  lamenting  in  strong  language  the  condition  and 
prospects  of  our  beloved  country.  '  ^Vh}^'  said  he, 
'  should  Christians  be  disturbed  about  the  dissolution 
of  the  Union  ?  It  can  come  only  by  God's  permis- 
sion, and  will  only  be  permitted  if  for  His  people's 
good ;  for  does  He  not  say, ''  All  things  work  together 
for  good  to  them  that  love  God  ?"  I  cannot  see  how 
we  should  be  distressed  about  such  things,  whatever 
be  their  consequences.'  That  faith  nothing  could 
shake,  because  he  dwelt  in  the  secret  place  of  the 
]\Iost  High,  under  the  pavilion  of  the  Almighty.'' 

It  lias  been  said  that  General  Jackson  ''fought 
for  slavery  and  the  Southern  Confederacy  Avith  the 
unshaken  conviction  that  both  Avere  to  endure." 
This  statement  is  true  with  regard  to  the  latter, 
but  I  am  very  confident  that  he  would  never  have 
fought  for  the  sole  object  of  })crpetuating  slavery.     It 


NOT  TO  PERPETUATE  SLAVERY.         143 

was  for  her  constitutional  rights  that  the  South  resist- 
ed the  ]N"orth,  and  slavery  was  only  comprehended 
amono^  those  riHits.  He  found  the  institution  a  re- 
sponsible  and  troublesome  one,  and  I  have  heard  him 
say  that  he  would  prefer  to  see  the  negroes  free,  but 
he  believed  that  the  Bible  taught  that  slavery  was 
sanctioned  by  the  Creator  himself,  who  maketli  men 
to  differ,  and  instituted  laws  for  the  bond  and  the  free. 
He  therefore  accepted  slavery,  as  it  existed  in  the 
Southern  States,  not  as  a  thing  desirable  in  itself,  but 
as  allowed  by  Providence  for  ends  which  it  was  not 
his  business  to  determine.  At  the  same  time,  the 
negroes  had  no  truer  friend,  no  greater  benefactor. 
Those  who  were  servants  in  his  own  house  he  treated 
with  the  greatest  kindness,  and  never  was  more  happy 
or  more  devoted  to  any  work  than  that  of  teaching 
the  colored  children  in  his  Sunday-school. 

At  the  time  that  the  clouds  of  war  were  about  to 
burst  over  the  land,  the  Presbytery  of  Lexington  held 
its  Spring  meeting  in  the  church  which  Major  Jackson 
attended.  These  ecclesiastical  gatherings,  with  their 
interesting  religious  services  and  preaching,  and  the 
pleasant  hospitalities  incident  to  them,  were  regarded 
in  Virginia  as  seasons  of  special  social  and  religious 
privilege  and  enjoj^ment.  Major  Jackson  was  enter- 
taining some  of  the  members  of  this  body,  but  owing 
to  the  intense  political  excitement  in  the  town,  and 
the  constant  demands  made  upon  him  in  militarj^  mat- 
ters, he  found  but  little  time  to  give  to  his  guests,  and, 
still  more  to  his  disappointment,  none  to  the  services 
of  tlie  sanctuary.  The  cadets  were  wild  with  youth- 
ful ardor  at  the  prospect  of  wai',  and  the  citizens  were 
forming  volunteer  companies,  drilling  and  equipping 


1^4:  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

to  enter  the  service.  ^lajor  Jackson's  practical  wis- 
dom and  energy  were  nuicli  sought  after,  and  inspired 
hope  and  confidence.  While  the  Presbytery  was  still 
in  session,  came  the  dreaded  news  from  Richmond 
that  Virginia  had  seceded  from  the  Union,  and  cast  in 
her  lot  with  the  Southern  Confederacy.  This  was  the 
death-knell  of  the  last  hope  of  peace. 

The  governor  of  the  State,  ''  honest  John  Letcher," 
as  he  was  called,  notified  the  superintendent  of  the 
Institute  that  he  should  need  the  services  of  the 
more  advanced  classes  of  the  cadets  as  drill-masters, 
and  they  must  be  prepared  to  go  to  Eichmond  at 
a  moment's  notice,  under  the  command  of  Major 
Jackson. 

Having  been  almost  entirely  absorbed  all  the  week 
with  his  military  occupations,  to  the  exclusion  of  his 
attendance  upon  a  single  church  service,  Avhich  he  had 
so  much  desired,  he  expressed  the  earnest  hope,  on  re- 
tiring late  Saturday  night,  that  the  call  to  Richmond 
would  not  come  before  Monday,  and  that  he  might  be 
permitted  to  spend  a  quiet  Sabbath,  without  any  men- 
tion of  politics,  or  the  impending  troubles  of  the  coun- 
try, and  enjoy  the  privilege  once  more  of  commun- 
ing with  God  and  Ilis  people  in  His  sanctuary.  But 
Heaven  ordered  it  otherwise. 

A])0ut  the  dawn  of  that  Sabbath  morning,  April 
i^lst,  our  door-])ell  rang,  and  the  order  came  that 
Major  Jackson  should  bring  the  cadets  to  Richmond 
immediatehj,  AVitliout  waiting  for  breakfast,  he  re- 
paired at  once  to  the  Institute,  to  make  arrangements 
as  speedily  as  possible  for  marching,  but  finding  that 
several  hours  of  preparation  would  necessarily  be 
required,  he  ap])ointed  the  hour  for  starting  at  one 


TAKING   LEAVE   OF  HIS   HOME.  I45 

o'clock  P.  M.  He  sent  a  message  to  his  pastor,  Dr. 
White,  requesting  him  to  come  to  the  barracks  and 
offer  a  prayer  with  the  command  before  its  departure. 
All  the  morning  he  Avas  engaged  at  the  Institute,  al- 
lowing himself  only  a  short  time  to  return  to  his 
home  about  eleven  o'clock,  when  he  took  a  hurried 
breakfast,  and  completed  a  few  necessary  preparations 
for  his  journey.  Then,  in  the  privacy  of  our  chamber, 
he  took  his  Bible  and  read  that  beautiful  chapter  in 
Corinthians  beginning  with  the  sublime  hope  of  the 
resurrection — "  For  we  know  that  if  our  earthly  house 
of  this  tabernacle  be  dissolved,  we  have  a  building  of 
God,  a  house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the 
heavens;"  and  then,  kneeling  down,  he  committed  him- 
self and  her  whom  he  loved  to  the  protecting  care  of 
his  Father  in  heaven.  I^ever  was  a  prayer  more  fer- 
vent, tender,  and  touching.  His  voice  was  so  choked 
with  emotion  that  he  could  scarcely  utter  the  words, 
and  one  of  his  most  earnest  petitions  was  that  ''if  con- 
sistent with  His  will,  God  would  still  avert  the  threat- 
ening danger  and  grant  us  peace !"  So  great  was  his 
desire  for  peace  that  he  cherished  the  hope  that  the 
political  difficulties  might  be  adjusted  without  blood- 
shed, until  he  was  convinced  by  stern  reality  that  this 
hope  was  vain.  Although  he  went  forth  so  bravely 
from  his  cherished  and  beloved  home,  with  a  firm 
trust  in  God,  yet  he  hoped  confidently  to  be  permit- 
ted to  return  again.  His  faith  in  the  success  of  the 
cause  of  the  South,  which  he  believed  to  be  a  right- 
eous one,  never  wavered  to  the  end  of  his  life ;  and  if 
he  ever  had  a  thought  that  he  should  not  survive  the 
struggle,  it  was  never  expressed  to  his  wife.  Ah ! 
how  the  light  went  out  of  his  home  when  he  depart- 
10 


146     LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

ed  from  it  on  that  beautiful  spring  day  I  But  in  tlie 
painful  separation  it  was  well  for  us  that  we  could 
not  know  that  this  was  the  final  break ing-up  of  our 
happy  home,  and  tliat  his  footstep  was  never  again  to 
cross  its  threshold  I 

A\'lien  Dr.  White  went  to  the  Institute  to  hold  the 
short  religious  service  which  Major  Jackson  requested, 
the  latter  told  him  the  command  would  march  pre- 
cisely at  one  o'clock,  and  the  minister,  knowing  his 
punctuality,  made  it  a  point  to  close  the  service  at  a 
quarter  before  one.  Everything  was  then  in  readi- 
ness, and  after  waiting  a  few  moments  an  officer  ap- 
proached Major  Jackson  and  said  :  ''  Major,  every- 
thing is  now  ready.  May  we  not  set  out  f  The 
only  reply  he  made  was  to  point  to  the  dial-plate  of 
the  barracks  clock,  and  not  until  the  hand  pointed  to 
the  hour  of  one  was  his  voice  heard  to  ring  out  the 
order,  '•  Forward,  march  !" 

From  this  time  forth  the  life  of  my  husband  be- 
longed to  his  beloved  Southern  land,  and  his  private 
life  becomes  public  history. 

After  he  had  taken  his  departure  for  the  army,  our 
home  grew  more  lonely  and  painful  to  me  from  day 
to  day,  and  at  the  invitation  of  a  friend,  Mrs.  William 
N.  Page  (one  of  the  best  and  noblest  of  women,  who 
had  been  as  a  mother  to  me  during  all  my  residence  in 
Lexington),  I  went  to  her  house  and  remained  until 
my  husband  lost  all  hoj^e  of  an  early  return,  when  he 
advised  me  to  go  to  the  home  of  my  father  in  North 
Carolina.  I  had  not  a  relative  in  Lexington,  but  kind 
friends  did  all  in  their  power  to  prevent  my  feeling 
this  need,  and  all  hearts  were  drawn  together  in  one 
common   bond   of   ti'ial   and  anxiety,   for   there   was 


RETURN  TO  MY  FATHER'S  HOUSE.        14Y 

scarcely  a  houseliokl  upon  which  had  not  fallen  a  part, 
at  least,  of  the  same  Aveight  of  sadness  and  desolation 
which  flooded  my  own  home.  It  was  a  time  of  keen 
anguish  and  fearful  apprehension  to  us  whose  loved 
<mes  had  gone  forth  in  such  a  perilous  and  desperate 
undertaking,  but  one  feeling  seemed  to  pervade  every 
heart,  that  it  was  a  just  and  righteous  cause ;  and  our 
hope  was  in  God,  who  "  could  save  by  many  or  by 
few,"  and  to  Ilim  the  Christian  people  of  the  South 
looked  and  prayed.  That  so  many  united  and  fervent 
])rayers  should  have  been  offered  in  vain  is  one  of 
those  mysteries  which  can  never  be  fathomed  by  finite 
minds.  The  mighty  Kuler  of  the  nations  saw  fit  to 
give  victory  to  the  strong  arm  of  power,  and  He 
makes  no  mistakes.  But  for  two  years  I  was  buoyed 
up  by  hope,  wdiicli  was  strengthened  by  my  husband's 
cheerfulness  and  courageous  trust;  and  when  he  be- 
came more  and  more  useful  in  the  service  of  his 
country,  I  felt  that  God  had  a  work  for  him  to  ac- 
complish, and  my  trust  and  prayers  grew  more  con- 
fident that  his  precious  life  would  be  spared  through- 
out the  war.  It  was  well  that  I  could  not  foresee  the 
future.  It  w^as  in  mercy  that  He  who  knew  the  end 
from  the  beginning  did  not  lift  the  veil. 


CHAPTER  X. 

HARPER'S  FERRY— 1861. 

After  marching  to  Staunton,  the  cadets  were  trans- 
ported by  rail  to  Eichmond.  The  day  after  their  de- 
parture, while  they  were  still  en  route,  and  had  stopped 
for  a  short  time,  ^[ajor  Jackson  wrote  as  follows  : 

"April  22d,  1861.  My  little  darhng,  the  command 
left  Staunton  on  a  special  train  at  about  a  quarter-past 
ten  this  morning.  AVe  are  now  stopping  for  a  short 
time  on  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Blue  Ridge.  The 
train  will  hardly  reach  Richmond  before  night.  The 
war  spirit  here,  as  well  as  at  other  points  of  the  line, 
is  intense.  The  cars  had  scarcely  stopped  before  a  re- 
quest Avas  made  that  I  would  leave  a  cadet  to  drill  a 

company.'' 

"RicmioxD,  23d. 

.  .  .  "The  cadets  are  encamped  on  the  Fair  grounds, 
which  is  about  a  mile  and  a  half  out  of  the  cit\%  on 
the  left  side  of  the  road.  We  have  excellent  quar- 
ters. Colonel  Robert  E.  Lee  of  the  army  is  here,  and 
has  been  made  major-general.  This  I  regard  as  of 
more  value  to  us  than  to  have  General  Scott  as  com- 
mander ;  as  it  is  understood  that  General  Lee  is  to  be 
our  commander-in-chief,  and  I  regard  him  as  a  better 
officer  tlian  General  Scott.  So  far  as  we  hear,  (rod  is 
crowning  our  cause  with  success,  but  I  don't  wish  to 


TROOPS   GATHERING  AT   RICHMOND.  I49 

send  rumors  to  you.  I  will  try  to  give  facts  as  they 
become  known,  though  I  may  not  have  time  to  write 
more  than  a  line  or  so.  The  governor  and  others  hold- 
ing responsible  offices  have  not  enough  tnne  for  their 
duties,  they  are  so  enormous  at  this  date.'' 

"  Fair  Grounds,  24th. 
..."  I  am  unable  to  give  you  the  information  I 
Avould  like  respecting  things  here.  The  State  troops 
are  constantly  arriving.  The  Fair  grounds  are  to  be 
made  the  place  for  a  school  of  practice.  AYilliam  [my 
brother.  Major  W.  W.  Morrison,  who  had  held  an  office 
under  the  United  States  government]  passed  through 
to-day  on  his  way  home,  and  looks  very  well.  He  says 
there  is  great  uneasiness  at  AYashington.  His  resigna- 
tion was  accepted,  although  they  desired  him  to  re- 
main. Major-General  Lee  is  commander-in-chief  of  all 
the  land  and  naval  forces  in  the  State." 

"  25th.  The  scene  here,  my  darling  pet,  looks  quite 
animated.  Troops  are  continually  arriving.  Yester- 
day about  seven  hundred  came  in  from  South  Caro- 
lina. ...  I  received  your  precious  letter,  in  which 
you  speak  of  coming  here  in  the  event  of  my  remain- 
ing:. I  would  like  verv  much  to  see  mv  sweet  little 
face,  but  my  darling  had  better  remain  at  her  own 
home,  as  my  continuance  here  is  very  uncertain.'' 

While  in  Eichmond  he  applied  himself  diligently  to 
the  drilling  and  discipline  of  the  masses  of  untrained 
soldiers  that  were  pouring  into  the  city.  One  day  a 
raw  recruit,  seeing  by  his  uniform  that  he  Avas  an  offi- 
cer, accosted  him,  and  begged  that  he  would  give  him 


150     LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

some  instruction  as  to  his  duties.  He  had  just  been 
assigned  as  corj)oral  of  the  guard  for  the  day,  and  was 
in  total  ignorance  of  wliat  was  required  of  him,  his 
suj)eri(>r  officer,  ])roba]jly  as  ignorant  as  himself,  not 
having  explained  what  he  was  to  do.  Major  Jackson 
at  once  went  with  him  around  the  whole  circuit  of  sen- 
trv  posts,  taught  him  all  the  ''salutes,''  the  ''chal- 
lenges," and  every  detail  of  his  position  ;  and  the  sol- 
dier was  so  impressed  with  his  knowledge,  and  so 
grateful  for  his  kindness,  that  he  was  heard  to  say  that 
"  he  should  always  respect  that  man.'^  It  was  this  read- 
iness to  do  all  in  his  power  for  others  that  gave  him 
such  a  strong  hold  u})on  the  hearts  of  his  soldiers. 

Of  course,  he  was  anxious  to  begin  active  duty  in 
some  position  worthy  of  his  skill  and  experience ; 
hut  his  first  appointment  was  a  disappointment  to 
him,  being  in  the  engineer  department  with  the  rank 
of  major.  It  ^\as  distasteful  to  him,  because  he  felt 
that  he  could  not  render  as  much  service  in  it  as  by 
more  active  service  in  the  field.  Some  of  his  friends 
saw  that  the  appointment  was  not  one  suited  to  him, 
and  at  their  request  the  Executive  AYar  Council  with- 
drew^ it,  and  he  received  a  commission  as  colonel  of 
the  Virginia  forces,  and  was  ordered  to  take  command 
at  Harper's  Ferry.  The  day  after  receiving  his  com- 
mission, wliich  was  the  :i7th  of  April,  when  it  was  read 
out  in  the  Convention  for  confirmation,  a  member  of 
that  bod}^  inquired,  "Who  is  this  ]\[ajor  Jackson,  that 
we  are  asked  to  commit  to  him  so  responsible  a  post?" 
'*  lie  is  one,"  replied  the  member  from  Kockbridge, 
Hon.  S.  !McD.  Aloore,  '*  who,  if  you  order  him  to  hold 
a  post,  will  never  leave  it  alive  to  be  occupied  by  the 
enemy." 


TAKES  COMMAND  AT   HARPER'S  FERRY.  151 

His  next  letter  was  from  Winchester,  dated  April 

27tli : 


'•  I  came  from  Richmond  yesterday,  and  expect  to 
leave  here  about  half -past  two  o'clock  this  afternoon 
for  Harper's  Ferry.  On  last  Saturday  the  Governor 
handed  me  my  commission  as  Colonel  of  Virginia  Vol- 
unteers, the  post  which  I  prefer  above  all  others,  and 
has  given  me  an  independent  command.  Little  one, 
you  must  not  expect  to  hear  from  me  very  often,  as  I 
expect  to  have  more  work  than  I  have  ever  had  in  the 
same  length  of  time  before;  but  don't  be  concerned 
about  your  husband,  for  our  kind  Heavenly  Father 
will  give  every  needful  aid." 

The  first  news  from  him  after  reaching  Harpers 
Ferry  was  simply  a  line  of  Spanish,  expressing  all  the 
love  of  his  heart.  The  second  was  not  much  longer, 
but  in  it  he  said  :  "  I  am  very  much  gratified  with  my 
command,  and  would  rather  have  this  post  tlian  any 
other  in  the  State.  I  am  in  tolerable  health,  probably 
a  little  better  than  usual,  if  I  had  enough  sleep.  I 
haven't  time  now  to  do  more  than  to  tell  you  how 
much  I  love  you.'' 

''  May  3d.  I  feel  better  this  morning  than  I  have 
for  some  time,  having  got  more  sleep  than  usual  last 
night.  Your  precious  letters  have  been  reaching  me 
from  time  to  time,  and  gladden  your  husband's  heart.'' 

''May  8th.  At  present  I  am  living  in  an  elegant 
mansion,  with  Major  Preston  in  my  room.  Mr. 
Massie  is  on  mv  staff,  and  left  this  morning  for  Eich- 


152  I^^FE   OF  GEXERAL   THOMAS   J.  JACKSO.V. 

mond  as  bearer  of  despatches,  Init  will  return  in  a  few- 
days.  I  am  strengthening  my  position,  and  if  at- 
tacked shall,  with  the  blessing  of  Providence,  repel 
the  enemy.  I  am  in  good  health,  considering  the 
great  amount  of  labor  which  devolves  upon  me,  and 
the  loss  of  sleep  to  which  I  am  subjected,  but  I  hope 
to  have  a  good  sleep  to-night,  and  trust  that  my  habits 
will  l)e  more  regular  in  the  future.  Colonels  Preston 
and  Massie  have  been  of  great  service  to  me.  Iluman- 
Iv  speaking,  I  don't  see  how  I  could  have  accomplished 
the  amount  of  Avork  I  have  done  Avithout  them.  .  .  . 
Oh,  how  I  would  love  to  see  your  precious  face  !*' 

In  his  next  letter  he  advised  me  to  make  every  nec- 
essary provision  for  the  servants,  and  arrange  all  our 
home  interests,  so  that  I  could  return  to  my  father's 
sheltering  roof  in  North  Carolina.  Up  to  this  period 
he  had  still  hoped  that  the  gathering  storm  might  pass 
over  Avithout  bloodshed ;  but  Virginia  had  noAv  adopt- 
ed the  Constitution  of  the  Confederate  States,  thus 
uniting  her  destiny  Avitli  theirs,  and  all  hope  of  escap- 
ing Avar  died  even  in  the  most  sanguine  hearts. 

Our  serA^ants,  under  my  supervision,  had  up  to  this 
time  remained  at  home ;  but  Avithout  the  firm  guidance 
and  restraint  of  their  master,  the  excitement  of  the 
times  proved  so  demoralizing  to  them  that  he  deemed 
it  best  for  me  to  provide  tliem  Avith  good  homes 
among  the  permanent  residents.  After  doing  this, 
packing  our  furniture  and  closing  our  house,  my  bur- 
dened, anxious  heart  found  sweet  relief  and  comfort 
upon  reaching  the  home  of  my  kind  parents,  Avho  had 
sent  one  of  my  young  brothers  to  bring  me  to  them 
just    as   soon  as  m\^  husband   advised    the  remoA'al. 


HARPER'S  FERRY.  I53 

Thenceforward  my  home  was  with  them  throughout 
the  war,  except  during  the  few  visits  which  I  was  per- 
mitted to  pay  my  husband  in  the  army. 

Harper's  Ferry  is  surrounded  by  scenery  of  rare 
beauty  and  grandeur.  The  httle  village  occupies  the 
slope  of  a  ridge  called  Bolivar  Heights,  which  runs 
along  a  tongue  of  land  between  the  junction  of  the 
Potomac  and  Shenandoah  rivers.  The  Potomac  is  the 
boundary  line  between  Mar^dand  and  Virginia.  The 
beautiful  Shenandoah,  whose  signification  in  the  In- 
dian language  is  "  sparkling  waters,"  flows  forth  from 
the  grand  and  exquisite  Yalley  of  Virginia,  along  the 
western  base  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  until  it  meets  the  Poto- 
mac, when  they  unite  and  rush  through  the  mountains 
towards  the  ocean.  Through  the  great  cleft,  worn 
ages  ago  by  the  waters  forcing  their  passage  through 
the  range  of  mountains,  a  picture  of  surpassing  beauty 
is  revealed  in  verdant,  undulating  plains,  stretching 
far  away  into  the  distance,  presenting  a  striking  con- 
trast to  the  wild  and  gigantic  scenery  of  the  fore- 
ground. East  of  the  Shenandoah  the  Blue  Ridge  rises 
immediately  from  the  waters,  overlooking  the  village, 
and  this  eminence  is  called  Loudoun  Heights.  N'ortli 
of  it,  and  across  the  Potomac,  a  twin  mountain  of 
equal  altitude  bears  the  name  of  Maryland  Heights, 
and  commands  a  view  of  the  whole  upper  valley  of 
the  Potomac.  In  consequence  of  the  greatly  superior 
elevation  of  the  heights  of  Loudoun  and  Marjland  to 
that  of  the  Bolivar  Heights,  upon  which  the  village  is 
built,  it  will  be  seen  that  Llarper's  Ferry  was  not  at 
all  a  position  that  was  strong  for  defence,  if  attacked 
by  an  army,  unless  it  was  held  as  a  fortress  by  a 
large  garrison,  with  heavy  artillery  to  croAvn  all  the 


154     LJFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

triangle  of  mountains  that  surround  it,  and  to  unite 
those  crests  with  each  other.  Still,  it  was  a  matter  of 
paramount  importance  to  the  Confederates  to  secure 
and  hold  this  post.  The  place  had  long  been  used  by 
the  Federal  government  as  a  point  at  which  to  manu- 
facture and  store  fire-arms,  and  the  banks  of  both 
streams  w^ere  lined  with  factories  and  arsenals  where 
thousands  of  arms  were  annually  made  and  stored.  As 
soon  as  war  became  imminent,  the  possession  of  Har- 
per's Ferry,  with  its  arms  and  munitions  of  war,  be- 
came such  a  necessity  to  the  A^irginians  that  the  mili- 
tia companies  of  the  surrounding  country  resolved  to 
effect  its  capture;  but  while  they  were  assembling 
for  this  purpose,  the  Federal  officer  in  command  of 
the  place  heard  of  their  design,  and,  after  setting  ffre 
to  the  factories  and  store-houses,  deserted  the  town. 
However,  as  the  factories  were  saved  by  the  efforts 
of  the  Virginians,  and  as  they  had  already  removed  and 
secreted  a  large  number  of  arms,  he  did  not  inflict 
such  a  blow  as  he  had  intended.  Harper's  Ferry  now 
became  the  rendezvous  of  all  the  troops  in  the  Valley 
of  Virginia,  and  it  was  the  command  of  these  and 
others  sent  to  reinforce  them  that  Avas  given  to  Colo- 
nel Jackson  Avhen  he  received  his  commission  in  the 
service  of  Virginia.  Many  other  companies  of  volun- 
teers flocked  from  the  valley,  all  of  whom  w^ere  filled 
with  ardor  and  enthusiasm;  but  the  majority  Avere 
without  training  or  disci})line,  and  many  \vere  unpro- 
vided with  arms.  Altogether  the  force  at  Harper's 
Ferry  consisted  of  about  twenty-live  hundred  men — 
four  liundred  Iventuckians  and  the  rest  Virginians — 
but  volunteers  from  the  South  afterwards  swelled  the 
number  to  fortv-live  hundi'ed  men.     There  were  eifirht 


SECRECY   IN   MILITARY   OPERATIONS.  155 

companies  of  cavalry,  and  four  battalions  of  field  ar- 
tillery with  fifteen  light  guns ;  but  all  was  a  confused 
mass  when  Colonel  Jackson  came  as  a  stranger  to 
take  command.  However,  with  the  aid  of  Colonels 
Preston  and  Massie  and  two  cadets  whom  he  had 
brouo-ht  as  drill-masters,  and  bv  his  own  tireless  en- 
ergy,  order  and  consistency  soon  took  the  place  of 
chaos  and  confusion.  As  matters  then  stood.  Harper's 
Ferry  was  regarded  as  the  most  important  position 
in  Yiro-inia.  Its  command  was  the  advance  guard 
of  all  the  Southern  forces,  and  it  was  expected  that 
blood  would  first  be  shed  there,  as  a  large  force  under 
General  Patterson  was  threatening  an  attack,  and 
through  that  pass  it  was  surmised  the  invaders  would 
pour  into  the  State.  Eegarding  it  as  a  necessity  to 
the  protection  and  defence  of  his  post,  Colonel  Jack- 
son had  taken  possession  of  the  Maryland  Heights, 
which  towered  so  far  above  the  village  and  Bolivar 
Heights  as  greatly  to  endanger  his  force  should  they 
be  seized  by  the  enemy.  In  his  despatches  to  the  gov- 
ernment, he  declared  his  determination,  if  attacked,  to 
make  such  a  resistance  as  should  convince  the  enemy 
of  the  desperate  resolution  of  the  people  of  the  South. 
From  the  very  first,  Colonel  Jackson  showed  that 
reticence  and  secrecy  as  to  his  military  operations 
tliat  was  so  marked  in  all  his  campaigns,  and  con- 
tributed so  greatly  to  his  success.  It  was  his  maxim 
that,  in  war,  mystery  was  the  key  to  success.  While 
in  command  at  Harper's  Ferry,  on  one  occasion,  he 
was  visited  by  a  committee  from  the  Legislature  of 
Maryland,  whose  object  appeared  to  be  to  learn  his 
plans.  This  dignified  body  w^as  received  with  courtesy, 
as  the  co-operation  of  their  State  Avas  earnestly  de- 


156  I'll-l-^    <»!■'   (iKXElLVL   THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

sired  by  the  South,  and  some  of  C'olonel  Jackson's 
friends  ^vere  curious  to  see  how  lie  would  stand  the 
test  of  being  questioned  upon  miUtary  matters  and 
keep  his  secrets,  while  yet  showing  the  utmost  polite- 
ness to  his  guests.  After  pumping  him  for  some  time 
without  an}^  satisfactory  result,  one  of  the  delegation 
ventured  to  ask  directly  :  '*  Colonel,  how  many  troops 
have  you  f '  lie  })romptly  replied  :  '•  I  should  be  glad 
if  Lincoln  thought  1  had  fifteen  thousand." 

I^pon  the  formal  union  of  Virginia  with  the  South- 
ern Confederacy,  all  her  forces  and  armaments  were 
turned  over  to  that  government.  The  capital  of  the 
Confederate  States  was  transferred  from  Montcromerv, 
Alabama,  to  Eichmond,  a  city  rich  in  historic  associa- 
tions from  the  days  of  AVashington,  and  now  destined 
to  be  the  centre  of  the  South  in  the  momentous  struo:- 
gle  of  the  next  four  years. 

Among  the  very  first  notices  of  Colonel  Jackson 
that  appeared  in  the  papers  was  the  following : 

"The  commanding  officer  at  Harper's  Ferry  is 
worthy  of  the  name  he  bears,  for  '  Old  Hickory '  him- 
self was  not  a  more  determined,  iron-nerved  man  than 
he.  Born  in  A^irginia,  educated  at  West  Point,  trained 
in  the  Mexican  war,  occupied  since  at  the  pet  mili- 
tary institution  of  the  Old  Dominion,  his  whole  life 
has  been  a  preparation  for  this  struggle.  A  brother 
officer  says  of  him:  'Jackson  does  not  know  fear  I' 
Above  all,  he  is  a  devoted  Christian,  and  the  strongest 
man  becomes  stronger  when  his  heart  is  pure  and  his 
liands  are  clean." 

ihiii  of  the  lirst  acts  of  the  CVjnfederate  authorities 


SUPERSEDED  BY  GENERAL  JOHNSTON.      157 

after  taking  possession  at  Ilichmond  was  to  appoint 
General  Joseph  E.  Johnston  to  the  command  at 
Harper's  Feny,  whose  higher  rank,  age,  and  greater 
experience  as  an  officer  it  Avas  thought  woukl  render 
him  a  more  suitable  commander  for  this  most  impor- 
tant post  than  Colonel  Jackson.  Accordingly,  General 
Johnston  Avas  sent  on  to  take  command,  without  any 
instructions  to  the  latter  from  the  government  to  turn 
it  over  to  him ;  and  as  he  had  been  placed  there  by 
the  authority  of  General  Lee,  as  commander  of  the 
A^irginia  troops,  his  fidelity  as  a  soldier  constrained 
him  to  hold  his  position  until  he  should  receive  orders 
from  the  same  source  to  resign  it  into  other  hands. 
This  Avas  an  embarrassing  situation  for  both  officers, 
but  fortunately  a  communication  soon  came  from 
General  Lee,  in  which  he  referred  to  General  John- 
ston as  commander  at  Harper's  Ferry;  and  Colonel 
Jackson  at  once  recognized  this  as  official  evidence 
that  he  Avas  superseded,  and  as  promptly  yielded  the 
command  to  General  Johnston.  The  latter  was  too 
true  and  honorable  a  soldier  himself  not  to  appreciate 
the  conduct  of  a  man  Avliose  inexorable  and  unflinch- 
ing devotion  to  duty  threAv  him  into  a  momentary 
collision  Avith  himself;  and,  ever  after,  both  their 
official  and  social  relations  Avere  cordial  and  pleasant, 
and  the  superior  officer  had  no  more  faithful  and  zeal- 
ous supporter  than  his  predecessor  at  Harper's  Ferry. 
To  this  change  of  command  Jackson  thus  alludes  in 
his  letters : 

'•Harper's  Ferry,  May  27th,  1861. 
"  My  precious  darling,  I  suppose  you  have  heard 
that  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  of  the  Confederate 
army,  has  been  placed  in  command  here.     You  must 


158      LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

not  concern  yourself  about  the  change.  Colonel  Pres- 
ton will  explain  it  all  to  you.  I  hope  to  have  more 
time,  as  long  as  I  am  not  in  command  of  a  post,  to 
write  longer  letters  to  my  darling  pet." 

The  A^irginia  regiments  at  the  different  posts  were 
now  oriranized  into  a  l)rio:ade,  and  Colonel  Jackson 
was  appointed  its  commander.  lie  Avrites  :  ''  I  am  in 
command  of  the  A^irginia  troops  stationed  here,  and 
am  doing  well.  I  have  been  supei^eded  by  General 
Johnston, 'as  stated  in  a  former  letter,  but  so  far  as  I 
have  yet  learned,  I  have  not  been  ordered  to  the 
Northwest."  He  had  a  great  desire  to  go  to  his  native 
section  of  Virginia,  and  devote  his  energies  to  rescuing 
that  part  of  the  State,  and  saving  it  to  the  South. 

'*  I  am  very  thankful  to  an  ever- kind  Providence 
for  enabling  you  so  satisfactorily  to  arrange  our  home 
matters.  I  just  love  my  business  little  woman.  Let 
Mr.  Tebbs  have  the  horse  and  rockaway  at  his  own 
price ;  and  if  he  is  not  able  to  pay  for  them,  you  may 
give  them  to  him,  as  he  is  a  tninister  of  the  Gosjjel.  .  .  . 
I  have  Avritten  as  you  requested  to  Winchester,  that 
if  you  were  there,  to  come  on  ;  but,  ni}^  little  pet,  Avhilst 
I  should  be  delighted  to  see  you,  yet  if  you  have  not 
started,  do  not  think  of  coming.  .  .  .  My  habitual 
prayer  is  that  our  kind  Heavenly  Father  Avill  give 
unto  my  darling  every  needful  blessing,  and  that 
she  may  have  that  'peace  wdiich  passeth  all  under- 
standing !' " 

The  next  letter  touches  upon  the  persistent  secrecy 
and  reticence  in  his  militarv  affairs  which  has  already 


"THE   STONEWALL  BRIGADE."  I59 

been  noticed,  and  shows  that  even  to  his  wife  he  did 
not  confide  his  phms  any  more  than  to  his  comrades 
in  arms : 

''June  4th.  Little  one,  you  wrote  me  that  you 
wanted  longer  letters,  and  now  just  prepare  yourself 
to  have  your  wish  gratified.  You  say  that  your  hus- 
band never  writes  you  any  news.  I  suppose  you 
meant  military  news,  for  I  have  written  you  a  great 
deal  about  your  esposo  and  how  much  he  loves  you. 
What  do  you  want  with  military  news?  Don't  you 
know  that  it  is  unmilitary  and  unlike  an  oihcer  to 
write  news  respecting  one's  post  ?  You  wouldn't  wish 
your  husband  to  do  an  unofficer-like  thing,  vrould  you? 
I  have  a  nice,  green  yard,  and  if  you  were  only  here, 
how  much  we  could  enjoy  it  together!  But  do  not 
attempt  to  come,  as  before  you  could  get  here  I  might 
be  ordered  elsewhere.  My  chamber  is  on  the  second 
story,  and  the  roses  climb  even  to  that  height,  and 
come  into  mj^  window,  so  that  I  have  to  push  them 
out,  when  I  want  to  lower  it.  I  wish  you  could  see 
with  me  the  beautiful  roses  in  the  3^ard  and  garden, 
and  upon  the  wall  of  the  house  here;  but  my  sweet, 
little  sunny  face  is  what  I  want  to  see  most  of  all. 
Little  one,  you  are  so  precious  to  somebody's  heart !  I 
have  been  greatly  blessed  by  our  kind  Heavenly  Father, 
in  health  and  otherwise,  since  leaving  home.  The 
troops  here  have  been  divided  into  brigades,  and  the 
Virginia  forces  under  (leneral  Johnston  constitute  the 
First  Brigade,  of  which  I  am  in  command." 

This  afterwards  became  the  famous  "  StoneAvall  Bri- 
gade."   The  Eev.  Dr.  William  X.  Pendleton,  rector  of 


160  LIFE   OF  GENERAL   THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

the  Episcopal  Church  at  Lexington,  a  graduate  of  West 
Point,  hail  command  of  a  battery  of  hght  field-guns, 
which  was  manned  chiefly  by  the  young  men  of  the 
college  and  town  of  Lexington.  It  was  attached  to 
the  Stonewall  Brigade,  in  which  it  Avas  known  as  the 
Eockbridge  Artillery.  This  battery  contained  seven 
Masters  of  Art  of  the  University  of  Virginia,  fortv- 
two  other  college  graduates,  nineteen  theological  stu- 
dents, and  others  (including  a  son  of  General  Lee), 
who  were  among  the  noblest  young  men  of  the  South, 
and  a  proportion  of  Christian  men  as  surprisingly  large 
as  it  was  highly  gratifying.  The  very  best  blood  of 
the  South  was  represented  among  these  volunteer 
soldiers,  many  of  them  taking  the  place  of  privates. 

On  the  16th  of  June  General  Johnston  evacuated 
Harper's  Ferry.  Doctor  Dabney's  explanation  of  this 
movement  was,  that  the  Confederate  commander 
speedih^  learned  the  untenable  nature  of  his  position 
there,  and,  having  accomplished  the  temporary  pur- 
poses of  its  occupation  by  the  removal  of  the  valuable 
machinery  and  materials  for  the  manufacture  of  fire- 
arms,- he  determined  to  abandon  the  place.  "Win- 
chester, being  the  true  strategic  point  for  the  defence 
of  the  upper  regions  of  Virginia,  thither  General 
Johnston  resolved  to  remove  his  army.  In  his  retreat 
he  offered  battle,  but  did  not  think  it  prudent  to  attack 
the  enemy,  whose  force  Avas  very  greatly  superior  to 
his  own.  In  his  letters  Colonel  Jackson  gives  an  ac- 
count of  this  march.  June  14th  he  wrote  from  Har- 
per's Ferry : 

"We  are  about  leaving  this  place.  General  John- 
ston  has    withdrawn   his   troops    from    the    Heights 


LETTERS   FROM   CAMP.  Ig;!^ 

(Maryland  and  Virginia),  has  blown  up  and  burnt  the 
railroad  bridge  across  the  Potomac,  and  is  doing  the 
same  with  respect  to  the  public  buildings.  Yesterday 
morning,  I  was  directed  to  get  ready  to  evacuate  the 
place,  and  in  the  evening  expected  to  march,  but  up 
to  the  present  time  the  order  has  not  come.  I  am 
looking  for  it  at  any  moment,  and,  as  I  am  at  leisure, 
will  devote  myself  to  writing  to  my  precious  pet.  I 
am  very  thankful  to  our  kind  Heavenly  Father  for 
having  sent  Joseph  [my  brother]  for  you,  and  I  trust 
that  you  are  now  safely  and  happily  at  Cottage 
Home  [my  father's  place],  and  that  you  found  the 
family  all  well.  You  speak  of  others  knowing  more 
about  me  than  my  darling  does,  and  say  you  have 
heard  throuo^h  others  that  I  am  a  brio^adier-^eneral. 
By  this  time  I  suppose  you  have  found  out  that  the 
report  owes  its  origin  to  Madam  Kumor." 

"  June  18th.  On  Sunday,  by  order  of  General  John- 
ston, the  entire  force  left  Harper's  Ferry,  marched 
towards  Winchester,  passed  tlirough  Charlestown,  and 
halted  for  the  night  about  two  miles  this  side.  The 
next  morning  we  moved  towards  the  enemy,  who 
were  between  Martinsburg  and  Williamsport,  Mary- 
land, and  encamped  for  the  night  at  Bunker  Hill. 
Yesterday  morning  we  were  to  have  marched  at  sun- 
rise, and  I  hoped  that  in  the  evening,  or  this  morning, 
we  should  have  engaged  the  enemy ;  but,  instead  of 
doing  so.  General  Johnston  made  some  disposition  for 
receiving  the  enemy  if  they  should  attack  us,  and 
thus  we  were  kept  until  about  noon,  when  he  gave 
the  order  to  return  towards  Winchester.  Near  sunset 
we  reached  this  place,  which  is  about  three  miles 
11 


162  I^IFE   OF   GENERAL   THOMAS  J.    JACKSON. 

north  of  Winchester,  on  the  turnpike  leading  thence 
to  Martinsburg.  On  Sunday,  when  our  troops  were 
marching  on  the  enemy,  they  were  so  inspirited  as 
apparently  to  forget  the  fatigue  of  the  march ;  and 
though  some  of  them  were  suffering  from  hunger,  this 
and  other  privations  appeared  to  be  forgotten,  and 
the  march  continued  at  the  rate  of  about  three  miles 
an  hour.  But  when  they  were  ordered  to  retire,  their 
reluctance  was  manifested  by  their  snail-like  pace. 
I  hope  the  general  will  do  something  soon.  Since 
Ave  left  Harper's  Ferry,  an  active  movement  towards 
repelling  the  enemy  is,  of  course,  expected.  I  trust 
that  through  the  blessing  of  God  we  shall  soon  be 
given  an  opportunity  of  driving  the  invaders  from 
this  region." 

"  Headquarters  First  Virginia  Brigade, 
Camp  Stephens,  June  22cl. 

"My  dsirlmg  esj)osita,  I  am  at  present  about  four 
miles  north  of  Martinsburg,  and  on  the  road  leading 
to  Williamsport,  Maryland.  General  Johnston  ordered 
me  to  Martinsburg  on  last  Wednesday,  and  there  ap- 
peared to  be  a  prospect  for  a  battle  on  Thursday,  but 
the  enemy  withdrew  from  our  side  of  the  river.  Our 
troops  are  ver}^  anxious  for  an  engagement,  but  this  is 
the  second  time  the  enemy  have  retreated  before  our 
advance.  However,  we  may  have  an  engagement  any 
day.  Eumor  reports  the  Federal  troops  as  concentrat- 
ing near  Shepherdstown,  on  the  Maryland  side  of  the 
Potomac.  A  great  number  of  families  have  left  their 
homes.  By  order  of  General  Johnston  I  have  de- 
stroyed a  large  number  of  locomotives  and  cars  on  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  Kailroad.  ...  I  have  just  learned 


MOVEMENTS   IX   THE   FIELD.  1^3 

that  the  enemy  are  again  crossing  into  Virginia  at 
Williamsport,  and  I  am  making  the  necessary  arrange- 
ments for  advancing  to  meet  them." 


"Monday  morning,  June  24:th.  I  advanced  with 
Colonel  Jo  W.  Allen's  regiment  and  Captain  Pendle- 
ton's Battery,  but  the  enemy  retreated  across  the  river, 
and,  after  reconnoitring  their  camp,  I  returned  to  my 
present  position,  four  miles  north  of  Martinsburg.  The 
Federal  troops  were  in  two  camps,  one  estimated  at 
about  six  hundred,  and  the  other  at  nine  hundred. 
You  spoke  of  the  cause  of  the  South  being  gloomy. 
It  is  not  so  here.  I  am  well  satisfied  that  the  enemy 
are  afraid  to  meet  us,  and  our  troops  are  anxious  for 
an  engagement.  A  few  days  since  Colonel  A.  P.  Hill, 
who  had  been  sent  to  Komney,  despatched  a  detach- 
ment to  burn  a  bridge  eighteen  miles  west  of  Cumber- 
land. The  enterprise  was  successful.  The  enemy  lost 
two  guns  and  their  colors.  I  regret  to  see  our  ladies 
making  those  things  they  call  '  Havelocks '  [a  cover- 
ing to  protect  the  head  and  neck  from  the  sun],  as 
their  time  and  money  could  be  much  more  usefully 
employed  in  providing  haversacks  for  the  soldiers, 
many  of  Avhom  have  none  in  which  to  carry  their  ra- 
tions. I  have  been  presented  with  three  Havelocks, 
but  I  do  not  intend  to  wear  them,  for,  as  far  as  I  am 
concerned,  I  shall  show  that  such  protection  is  unnec- 
essary in  this  climate." 

"Berkeley  County,  June  28th. 

..."  I  am  bivouacking.  I  sleep  out  of  doors  without 
any  cover  except  my  bedding,  but  have  not  felt  any 
inconvenience  from  it  that  I  am  aware  of  in  the  way 
of  impaired  health.     Last  evening,  opposite  Williams- 


164  LIFE  OF    GENERAL   THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 

port,  one  of  our  men  was  shot  in  the  abdomen  by  the 
enemy,  but  he  is  still  living,  and  I  trust  will  recover. 
I  am  inclined  to  think  it  was  done  by  a  Virginian 
rather  than  a  Xortherner.  There  is  a  great  deal  of 
dislovalty  in  this  county,  although  it  has  diminished. 
]\rr.  Edwin  Lee,  son-in-law  of  General  Pendleton,  is 
my  aid,  and  Sand}^  Pendleton  is  my  ordnance  officer 
and  acting  adjutant -general.  Last  night  the  news 
came,  after  I  had  retired,  that  the  enemy  had  packed 
their  wagons  with  baggage,  thus  indicating  a  move  in 
some  direction.  I  didn't  trouble  my  command,  but 
merely  gave  such  orders  as  were  necessary  to  prevent 
their  approach  without  giving  me  timely  notice ;  but, 
in  consequence,  I  had  my  rest  disturbed,  and  am  feel- 
ins:  the  effects  of  it  to-day.  Yesterdav  Lieutenant 
Bowman,  of  the  Eighth  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Vol- 
unteers, who  was  captured  some  time  since  opposite 
Williamsport  by  Colonel  J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  of  the  cav- 
alry, and  now  in  Richmond  on  his  parole  of  honor,  sent 
a  letter  via  here  to  Williamsport  which  required  us 
to  send  a  flag  of  truce.     All  went  off  well." 

The  next  letter  was  written  upon  a  sheet  which  had 
been  captured  from  the  Federals.  It  was  bordered  all 
around  with  an  edge  of  bright  red,  and  at  the  top  of 
the  first  page,  in  the  left-hand  corner,  was  a  gaydy 
colored  picture  of  the  statue  of  Liberty,  holding  over 
her  head  a  United  States  flag,  and  beneath  her  feet 
were  the  words  "  Onward  to  Victory  !" 

"  Darkesville,  July  4th. 

'-'  My  precious  darling,  day  before  yesterday  I 
learned  that  the  enemy  had  crossed  the  Potomac  and 


THE   FIRST    ENGAGEMENT.  165 

were  advancing  upon  me.     I  immediately  ordered  my 
command  under  arms,  and  gave  such  instructions  as  I 
desired  to  have  carried  out  until  I  should  be  heard  from 
again,  and  with  Captain  Pendleton^s  Battery  and  one 
regiment  of  Virginia  volunteers  advanced  to  meet  the 
Fecleral  troops.    After  proceeding  to  the  locality  Avhich 
had  been  indicated  as  occupied  by  them,  and  ascertain- 
ing the  position  of  their  advance,  I  made  the  necessary 
movement  for  bringing  a  small  part  of  my  force  into 
action.     Soon  the  firing  commenced,  and  the  advance 
of  the  enemy  was  driven  back.     They  again  advanced, 
and  were  repulsed.     My  men  got  possession  of  a  house 
and  barn,  which  gave  them  a  covered  position  and  an 
effective  'fire ;   but  finding  that  the  enemy  were  en- 
deavoring to  get  in  my  rear  and  that  my  men  were 
being  endangered,  I  gave  the  order  to  their  colonel 
that,  if  pressed,  he  must  fall  back.     He  obeyed,  and 
fell  back.     The  artillery  of  the  foe  opened  upon  me, 
and  I  directed  Captain  Pendleton  to  take  a  favorable 
position  in  rear  and  return  their  fire  with  one  gun. 
His  first  ball  cleared  the  road,  which  was  occupied  by 
the  enemy."     [It  is  said  that,  before  firing  this  first 
ball  upon  the  enemy,  the  reverend  officer  lifted  his 
eyes  to  heaven  and  uttered  the  prayer,  "  Lord,  have 
mercy  upon  their  souls  I'']     ''  I  still  continued  to  fall 
back,  checking  the  enemy  when  it  became  necessary, 
so  as  to  give  time  for  my  baggage  to  get  into  column 
at  camp  before  I  should  arrive  there,  as  one  of  my  ob- 
jects in  advancing  was  to  keep  the  enemy  from  reacli- 
ing  my  camp  before  my  wagons   could  get   out  of 
the  way.     Besides  my  cavalry,  I  had  only  one  regi- 
ment engaged,  and  one  cannon,  though  I  had  ordered 
up  two  other  regiments,  so  as  to  use  them  if  necessary. 


160  LIFE   OF   GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

My  cannon  fired  only  eight  times,  while  the  enemy 
fired  about  thirty-five  times ;  but  the  first  fire  of  Cap- 
tain Pendleton's  Battery  was  probably  worth  more 
than  all  of  theirs.  1  desired,  as  far  as  practicable,  to 
save  my  ammunition.  My  orders  from  General  John- 
ston required  me  to  retreat  in  the  event  of  the  advance 
in  force  of  the  enemy,  so  as  soon  as  I  ascertained  that 
he  was  in  force  I  obeyed  my  instructions.  I  had  twelve 
wounded  and  thirteen  killed  and  missing.  My  cavalry 
took  forty -nine  prisoners.  A  number  of  the  enemy 
were  killed,  but  I  do  not  know  how  many.  As  I 
obeyed  my  orders,  and  fell  back,  after  ascertaining 
that  the  Federals  were  in  force,  the  killed  of  the  ene- 
my did  not  fall  into  our  hands.  My  officers  and  men 
behaved  beautifully,  and  were  anxious  for  a  battle, 
this  being  only  a  skirmish.  [The  affair  Avas  known  as 
that  of  "  Falling  Waters."]  I  wrote  out  my  official  re- 
port last  night,  and  think  General  Johnston  forward- 
ed it  to  Eichmond.  This  morning  one  of  his  staff-offi- 
cers told  me  that  the  general  had  recommended  me 
for  a  brigadier-general.  I  am  very  thankful  that  an 
ever-kind  Providence  made  me  an  instrument  in  carry- 
ing out  General  Johnston's  orders  so  successfully.  .  .  . 
The  enemy  are  celebrating  the  4th  of  July  in  Mar- 
tinsburg,  but  we  are  not  observing  the  day." 

Upon  his  return  to  Winchester  he  received  the  fol- 
lowing note  from  General  Lee : 

"Richmond,  Va.,  July  3d,  1861. 
"  My  dear  general,  I  have  the  pleasure  of  sending 
you  a  commission  of  brigadier-general  in  the  Provis- 
ional Army,  and  to  feel  that  you  merit  it.     May  your 
advancement  increase  your  usefulness  to  the  State. 
"  Yery  truly,  K.  E.  Lkk." 


IS   MADE   A  BRIGADIER-GENERAL.  1^7 

His  surprise  and  gratification  at  his  promotion  are 
expressed  in  the  following  letter : 

"  I  have  been  officially  informed  of  my  promotion 
to  be  a  brigadier-general  of  the  Provisional  Army  of 
the  Southern  Confederacy,  but  it  was  prior  to  my  skir- 
mish with  the  enemy.  My  letter  from  the  Secretary 
of  War  was  dated  17th  of  June.  Thinking  it  would 
be  gratifying  to  you,  I  send  the  letters  of  Generals 
Lee  and  Johnston.  From  the  latter  you  ^vill  see  that 
he  desired  my  promotion  for  my  conduct  on  the  2d 
and  3d  instant.  On  the  3d  I  did  nothing  more  than 
join  General  Johnston.  My  promotion  was  beyond 
what  I  anticipated,  as  I  only  expected  it  to  be  in  the 
volunteer  forces  of  the  State.  One  of  my  greatest 
desires  for  advancement  is  the  gratification  it  Avill 
give  my  darling,  and  [the  opportunity]  of  serving  my 
country  more  efficiently.  I  have  had  all  that  I  ought 
to  desire  in  the  line  of  promotion.  I  should  be  very 
ungrateful  if  I  were  not  contented,  and  exceedingly 
thankful  to  our  kind  Heavenly  Father.  May  his  bless- 
ing ever  rest  on  you  is  my  fervent  prayer.  Try  to 
live  near  to  Jesus,  and  secure  that  peace  which  flows 
like  a  river." 

In  the  next  letter  he  alludes  to  the  destruction  of 
the  property  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  by 
the  command  of  General  Johnston : 

..."  It  was  your  husband  that  did  so  much  mischief 
at  Martinsburg.  To  destroy  so  many  fine  locomotives, 
cars,  and  railroad  property  was  a  sad  work,  but  I  had 
my  orders,  and  my  duty  was  to  obey.     If  the  cost  of 


16S  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

the  property  could  only  have  been  expended  in  dis- 
seminating the  gospel  of  the  Prince  of  Peace,  how 
much  good  might  have  been  expected  I  .  .  .  You  must 
not  be  concerned  at  our  falling  back  to  this  place 
[Winchester].  .  .  .  One  of  the  most  trying  things  here 
is  the  loss  of  sleep.  Last  night  I  was  awakened  by  a 
messenger  from  the  house  of  a  friend  where  some  cav- 
alry had  stopped.  One  of  his  fair  daughters  took  it 
into  her  head  that  the  cavalry  belonged  to  the  enemy, 
whereupon  she  wrote  me  a  note,  much  to  my  discom- 
fort ;  but  the  field-ofiicer  of  the  day  went  over  to  ex- 
amine into  the  case,  and  found  the  oflScer  in  command 
was  one  of  his  friends.  The  people  here  are  very  kind ; 
so  much  so  that  I  have  to  decline  many  invitations  to 
accept  their  hospitalities.  At  present  I  am  in  a  very 
comfortable  building,  but  we  are  destitute  of  furni- 
ture, except  such  things  as  we  have  been  able  to 
gather  together.  I  am  very  thankful  to  our  Heavenly 
Father  for  having  given  me  such  a  fine  brigade." 

""Winchester,  Juh' 16th. 
..."  Last  evening  the  enemy  encamped  at  Bunker 
Hill,  about  ten  miles  from  us,  and  this  mornmg  we 
would  have  given  them  a  warm  reception  had  they 
advanced,  but  we  have  heard  nothing  respecting  their 
movements  to-day.  The  news  from  the  Northwest  is 
unfavorable,  as  you  have  probably  seen  in  the  papers, 
but  we  must  not  be  discouraged.  God  will,  I  am  well 
satisfied,  in  His  own  good  time  and  way,  give  us  the 
victory.  ...  In  reply  to  your  queries,  I  am  sleeping  on 
the  floor  of  a  good  room,  but  I  have  been  sleeping  out 
in  camp  several  weeks,  and  generally  found  that  it 
agreed  with  me  well,  except  when  it  j-ained,  and  even 


HIS   CHEERFUL,  HOPEFUL   SPIRIT.  169 

then  it  was  but  slightly  objectionable.  I  find  that 
sleeping  in  the  open  air,  with  no  covering  but  my 
blankets  and  the  blue  sky  for  a  canopy,  is  more  re- 
freshing than  sleeping  in  a  room.  My  table  is  rather 
poor,  but  usually  I  get  corn-bread.  All  things  consid- 
ered, however,  I  am  doing  Avell.  ...  As  to  writing', 
so  as  to  mail  letters  which  would  travel  on  Sunday, 
when  it  can  be  avoided,  I  have  never  had  occasion, 
after  years  of  experience,  to  regret  our  system.  Al- 
though sister  I gets  letters  from  her  husband  every 

day,  is  she  any  happier  than  my  esjyositaf  Look 
how  our  kind  Heavenly  Father  has  prospered  us!  I 
feel  well  assured  that  in  following  our  rule,  which  is 
Biblical,  I  am  in  the  path  of  duty,  and  that  no  evil  can 
come  nigh  me.  All  things  work  together  for  my  good. 
But  when  my  sweet  one  writes,  let  the  letters  be  long, 
and  your  e.^poso  hopes  to  send  you  full  ones  in  return ; 
and  when  the  wars  and  troubles  are  all  over,  I  trust 
that,  through  divine  mercy,  we  shall  have  many  happy 
days  together." 

He  always  wrote  and  talked  in  the  same  hopeful, 
cheerful  strain,  never  seeming  to  entertain  a  thought 
that  he  might  fall ;  or  if  he  had  such  a  thought,  he  was 
too  unselfish  to  overshadow  his  w^ife's  happiness  by 
intimating  it  to  her.  With  the  apostle  Paul,  he  could 
say  that  "  living  or  dying  he  was  the  Lord's,"  but  he 
never  expressed  a  desire  to  live  so  strongly  as  not  to 
survive  his  -wife.  From  the  very  thought  of  such  a 
bereavement,  his  affectionate  nature  seemed  to  shrink 
and  recoil  more  than  from  any  earthly  calamity,  and 
he  often  expressed  the  hope,  with  the  greatest  fer- 
vor and  tenderness,  that  whatever  trial  his  Heavenly 


170  LIFE    OF   GENERAL   THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 

Father  sent  upon  him,  this  might  be  spared.  In  sick- 
ness, he  was  the  most  devoted  of  nurses— his  great  and 
loving  heart  having  not  a  fibre  of  selfishness  in  it,  and 
there  was  no  end  to  the  self-sacrifice  he  would  endure. 
Once,  during  a  painful  though  not  dangerous  illness 
in  his  family,  after  exhausting  every  means  he  could 
think  of  for  relief,  his  anxiety  became  so  overpower- 
iner  that  he  burst  into  tears,  and  his  manlv  frame 
shook  with  convulsive  emotion.  Such  was  the  ex- 
quisite tenderness  of  heart  of  the  man  who,  as  a  sol- 
dier, could  bear  every  privation,  and  on  the  march  and 
in  the  field  set  his  men  an  example  of  the  most  heroic 
endurance.  This  mingling  of  tenderness  and  strength 
in  his  nature  is  illustrated  by  a  letter  to  one  of  his  ofii- 
cers  who  had  obtained  leave  of  absence  to  visit  a  strick- 
en household.  A  beloved  member  of  his  family  had 
just  died  ;  another  was  dangerously  ill ;  and  he  asked 
for  an  extension  of  his  furlough.     This  was  the  reply : 

"  My  dear  Major, — I  have  received  your  sad  letter, 
and  wish  I  could  relieve  your  sorrowing  heart;  but 
human  aid  cannot  heal  the  wound.  From  me  you 
have  a  friend's  sympathy,  and  I  wish  the  suffering 
condition  of  our  country  permitted  me  to  show  it. 
But  we  must  think  of  the  living  and  of  those  who  are 
to  come  after  us,  and  see  that,  with  God's  blessing,  we 
transmit  to  them  the  freedom  we  have  enjoyed.  What 
is  life  without  honor?  Degradation  is  worse  than 
death.  It  is  necessary  that  you  should  be  at  your 
post  immediately.  Join  me  to-morrow  morning. 
^•Your  sympathizing  friend,        T.  J.  Jackson."" 

Among  the  stores  captured  at  Harper's  Ferry,  not 


*'OLD   SORREL."  I7I 

the  least  valuable  was  a  train  of  cars  on  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  Eailroad,  bound  for  Washington,  loaded  with 
horses  for  the  government.  This  was  a  lawful  prize, 
and  was  at  once  turned  over  to  the  Confederate  army, 
except  two  which  Jackson  purchased  ;  and,  hoping  that 
hostilities  would  soon  blow  over,  he  selected  the  small- 
er one,  which  he  called  "  Fancy,"  as  a  present  for  his 
wife,  thinking  his  size  and  gait  were  admirably  suited 
for  the  use  of  a  lady.  His  name  of  "  Fancy  "  seemed 
rather  a  misnomer,  for  he  was  anything  but  a  fancy- 
looking  animal ;  but  he  was  well  formed,  compactly 
built,  round  and  fat  (never  "  raw-boned,  gaunt,  and 
grim,"  as  he  has  often  been  described),  and  his  powers 
of  endurance  were  perfectly  wonderful.  Indeed,  he 
seemed  absolutely  indefatigable.  His  eyes  were  his 
chief  beauty,  being  most  intelligent  and  expressive, 
and  as  soft  as  a  gazelle's.  He  had  a  i^eculiar  habit  of 
lying  down  like  a  dog  when  the  command  halted  for 
rest.  His  master  made  a  pet  of  him,  and  often  fed  him 
apples  from  his  own  hand.  General  Jackson  had 
several  other  horses,  one  or  two  being  superb  creat- 
ures, which  had  been  presented  to  him,  but  he  prefer- 
red the  little  sorrel  to  them  all,  finding  his  gait,  as  he 
expressed  it,  "  as  easy  as  the  rocking  of  a  cradle.''  He 
rode  him  in  nearly  every  battle  in  Avhich  he  was  en- 
gaged. After  being  lost  for  a  time,  upon  the  fall  of 
his  master  at  Chancellors ville,  he  was  found  by  a  Con- 
federate soldier,  and  kindly  sent  by  Governor  Letcher 
to  the  family  of  General  Jackson  in  North  Carolina, 
and  lived  many  years  in  Lincoln  County  on  the 
farm  of  the  Eev.  Dr.  Morrison,  father-in-law  of  the 
general,  and  with  whom  his  family  made  their  home. 
Here  he  was  treated  to  the  greenest  of  pastures  and 


172 


LIFE  OF   GENERAL   THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX, 


the  best  of  care,  and  did  excellent  service  as  a  family 
horse,  both  in  harness  and  under  the  saddle,  and  for  a 
lono-  time  was  the  ridintr-horse  of  the  venerable  min- 


"OLD  SORREL 


ister  to  his  country  churches.  One  of  the  young 
Morrisons  used  to  say  that  Old  Fancy  (as  he  was  called 
on  the  farm)  "had  more  sense^  and  was  the  greatest 
old  rascal  he  ever  saAV."  He  could  make  as  good  use 
of  his  mouth  in  hfting  latches  and  letting  down  bars 
as  a  man  could  of  his  hands,  and  it  was  a  frequent 
habit  of  his  to  let  himself  out  of  his  stable,  and  then 
o-o  deliberately  to  the  doors  of  all  the  other  horses  and 
mules,  liberate  each  one,  and  then  march  off  with 
them  all  behind  him,  like  a  soldier  leading  his  com- 
mand, to  the  green  fields  of  grain  around  the  farm — a 
fence  proving  no  obstacle  to  him,  for  he  could,  with 
his  mouth,  lift  off  the  rails  one  by  one  until  the  fence 
was  low  enough  to  jump  over ;  so  that  he  was  contin- 
uallv  getting  into  mischief.     But  he  was  such  a  pet 


"OLD   SORREL."  I73 

that  he  was  allowed  to  do  anything;  and  was  often 
taken  to  county  fairs,  where  he  was  an  object  of  as 
much  interest  as  one  of  the  old  heroes  of  the  war. 
His  hardiness  was  shown  by  his  great  longevity,  for 
he  was  over  thirty  years  of  age  when  he  died,  in  1886, 
at  the  Soldiers'  Home  in  Eichmond,  Virginia ;  and 
such  was  still  the  enthusiasm  for  the  old  war-horse 
that  his  body  was  sent  to  a  taxidermist  to  be  mount- 
ed. It  now  stands  in  a  glass  case  in  the  library, 
where  the  veterans,  as  they  look  upon  it,  can  im- 
agine that  they  see  again  their  beloved  commander  as 
they  have  seen  him  so  often  on  the  field  of  battle. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

THE   FIRST   BATTLE   OF   MANASSAS. 

AYhile  General  Johnston's  movements  were  going 
on  in  the  lower  Valley  of  Virginia,  others  of  great  im- 
portance were  being  made  elsewhere  in  the  State,  the 
chief  of  which  was  the  organization  of  an  army  by 
General  Beauregard  at  Manassas  Junction,  to  cover 
the  approach  to  Richmond,  the  capital  of  the  Confed- 
eracy. This  Junction  was  about  twenty-five  miles 
from  Alexandria,  and  was  manifestly  the  strategic 
point  for  the  defence  of  Xortheastern  Virginia.  The 
United  States  troops  were  now  massed  in  and  around 
Washington,  preparing  for  an  advance  into  Virginia, 
and  all  the  energies  of  the  Confederate  authorities 
were  concentrated  upon  preparations  to  repel  the  in- 
vaders. On  both  sides  Manassas  was  the  centre  of 
expectation.  Generals  Beauregard  and  Johnston  were 
acting  in  concert,  and  on  the  18th  of  July  Johnston 
received  a  telegram  from  Beauregard  that  the  enemy 
was  advancing  in  force  upon  Bull  Run,  and  calling 
upon  him  to  hasten  to  his  assistance.  General  Mc- 
Dowell, with  a  large  army,  was  marching  forward  to 
attack  the  Confederates  with  the  confidence  of  an  easy 
victory.  They  had  already  driven  back  General  Beau- 
regard's advance  guard,  and  seemed  likely  to  carry  all 
before  them  when  the  arrival  of  Johnston's  troops 
turned  the  fortune  of  the  dav. 


ON   THE   MARCH   TO   THE    FIELD.  175 

We  will  now  let  General  Jackson  give  his  account 
of  the  movements  of  his  command  at  this  juncture. 
He  writes: 

''  On  the  ISth  of  July  I  struck  my  tents,  rolled 
them  up,  and  left  them  on  the  ground,  and  about  noon 
marched  through  Winchester,  as  I  had  been  encamped 
on  the  other  side  of  the  town.  About  an  hour  and 
a  half  after  leaving,  I  had  the  following  order  from 
General  Johnston  published  to  my  brigade  :  '  Our 
gallant  army  under  General  Beauregard  is  now  at- 
tacked by  overwhelming  numbers.  The  commanding 
general  hopes  that  his  troops  will  step  out  like  men, 
and  make  a  forced  march  to  save  the  country.'  At 
this  stirring  appeal  the  soldiers  rent  the  air  with 
shouts  of  joy,  and  all  was  eagerness  and  animation 
where  before  there  had  been  only  lagging  and  unin- 
terested obedience.  "We  continued  our  march  until 
we  reached  Millwood,  in  Clarke  County,  where  we 
halted  for  an  hour  or  so,  having  found  an  abundance 
of  good  water,  and  there  we  took  a  lunch.  Eesuming 
the  march,  my  brigade  continuing  in  front,  we  arrived 
at  the  Shenandoah  River  about  dark.  The  w^ater  was 
waist-deep,  but  the  men  gallantly  waded  the  river. 
This  halting  and  crossing  delayed  us  for  some  time ; 
but  about  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  we  arrived  at 
the  little  village  of  Paris,  where  we  remained  sleep- 
ing until  nearly  dawn.  I  mean  the  troops  slept,  as 
my  men  were  so  exhausted  that  I  let  them  sleep  while 
I  kept  watch  myself." 

After  pacing  around  the  camp,  or  leaning  upon  the 
fence,  watching  the  slumbers  of  his  men  until  nearly 


176  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

daylight,  he  yielded  his  post  to  a  member  of  his  staff. 
who  insisted  on  relieving  him,  and  he  then  threw  his 
own  wearied  frame  down  upon  a  bed  of  leaves  in  a 
fence  corner,  and  snatched  an  hour  or  two  of  sleep, 
after  which  he  rose  at  dawn  and  roused  his  men  to 
continue  their  march."^ 

*  This  Night-watch  by  the  Commander  has  been  celebrated 
in  a  poem,  which  appeared  after  his  death,  and  is  said  to  have 
been  written  by  Mr.  James  R.  Randall, 

"  When  the  command  halted  for  the  night,  and  the  officer  of 
the  day  went  to  General  Jackson  and  said,  '  General,  the  men  are 
all  so  wearied  that  there  is  not  one  but  is  asleep,'  and  asked  if 
lie  should  not  awaken  some  of  them  to  keep  guard,  he  replied, 
'  No,  let  the  poor  fellows  sleep,  and  I  will  watch  the  camp  to- 
night,' And  all  those  hours  till  the  daylight  dawned  he  walked 
around  that  camp,  the  lone  sentinel  for  that  brave  but  weary  and 
silent  body  of  Virginia  heroes;  and  when  the  glorious  morning 
broke,  the  soldiers  awoke  fresh  and  ready  for  action,  all  uncon- 
scious of  the  noble  vigils  kept  over  their  slumbers. 

"  The  Lone  Sentry. 

"  Twas  in  the  dying  of  tlie  day, 

The  darkness  grew  so  still, 
The  drowsy  pipe  of  evening  birds 

Was  liushed  upon  the  hill. 
Athwart  the  shadows  of  the  vale 

Slumbered  the  men  of  might — 
And  one  lone  sentry  paced  his  ]-ounds, 

To  watch  the  camp  that  night. 

"  A  grave  and  solemn  man  was  he, 
With  deep  and  sombre  brow. 
Whose  dreamful  eyes  seemed  hoarding  up 

Some  unaccomplished  vow. 
His  wistful  glance  peered  o'er  the  plains 
Beneath  the  starrv  liuht, 


"THE   LONE   SENTRY."  177 

In  his  letter  General  Jackson  continues :  '•  Bright 
and  early  we  resumed  the  march,  and  the  head  of  our 
column  arrived  at  Piedmont,  on  the  Manassas  Gap 
Kailroad,  about  six  o'clock  in  the  morning.  After  get- 
ting our  breakfast,  the  brigade  commenced  going 
aboard  of  the  cars,  and  the  same  day  all  that  could  be 
carried  arrived  at  Manassas  about  four  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  without  much  suffering  to  my  men  or  to 
myself.  The  next  day  we  rested,  and  the  following 
day  was  the  memorable  21st  of  July." 

''  Manassas,  July  22d. 

"  My  precious  Pet,— Yesterday  we  fought  a  great 

battle  and  gained  a  great  victory,  for  which  all  the 

glory  is  due  to  God  alone.     Although  under  a  heavy 

fire  for  several  continuous  hours,  I  received  only  one 

And  with  the  murmured  name  of  God 
He  watched  the  camp  that  night. 

"  The  future  opened  unto  him 

Its  grand  and  awful  scroll ; 
Manassas  and  the  Valley  march 

Came  heaving  o'er  his  soul ; 
Eichmond  and  Sharpsburg  thundered  by 

With  that  tremendous  fight 
Which  gave  him  to  the  angel  hosts 

Who  watched  the  camp  that  night. 

"  We  mourn  for  him  who  died  for  us 

With  that  resistless  moan, 
While  up  the  valley  of  the  Lord 

He  marches  to  the  Throne  ! 
He  kept  the  faith  of  men  and  saints, 

Sublime  and  pure  and  bright ; 
He  sleeps— and  all  is  well  with  him 

Who  watched  the  camp  that  night." 

12 


178  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS   J.   JACKSOX. 

wound,  the  breaking  of  the  longest  linger  of  ray  left 
hand;  but  the  doctor  says  the  finger  can  be  saved. 
It  was  broken  about  midway  between  the  hand  and 
knuckle,  the  ball  passing  on  the  side  next  the  fore- 
finger. Had  it  struck  the  centre,  I  should  have  lost 
the  linger.  My  horse  was  wounded,  but  not  killed. 
Your  coat  got  an  ugly  wound  near  the  hip,  but  my 
servant,  who  is  very  handv,  has  so  far  repaired  it  that 
it  doesn't  show  very  much.  My  preservation  was  en- 
tirely due,  as  was  the  glorious  victory,  to  our  God,  to 
whom  be  all  the  honor,  praise,  and  glory.  The  battle 
was  the  hardest  that  I  have  ever  been  in,  but  not  near 
so  hot  in  its  fire.  1  commanded  in  the  centre  more 
particularly,  though  one  of  my  regiments  extended  to 
the  rig-ht  for  some  distance.  There  were  other  com- 
manders  on  my  right  and  left.  Whilst  great  credit  is 
due  to  other  parts  of  our  gallant  army,  God  made  my 
brigade  more  instrumental  than  an}"  other  in  repulsing 
the  main  attack.  This  is  for  your  information  only — 
say  nothing  about  it.  Let  others  speak  praise,  not 
myself.'' 

Though  he  was  so  reticent  of  his  own  part  in  the 
battle,  it  was  well  known  that  his  brigade  saved  the 
day,  the  credit  of  which  was  justly  given  to  its  com- 
mander. At  one  moment  it  seemed  as  if  all  was  lost. 
The  troops  of  South  Carolina,  commanded  by  General 
Bee,  had  been  overwhelmed,  and  he  rode  up  to  Jack- 
son in  despair,  exclaiming,  "  They  are  beating  us  back  1'' 
''  Then,"  said  Jackson,  "  we  will  give  them  the  bayo- 
net I"  This  cool  reply  showed  the  unconquered  mind 
of  one  who  never  knew  that  he  Avas  beaten,  and  put 
fresh  courage  into  the  heart  of  hini  who  was  almost 


"JACKSON   STANDS   LIKE   A  STONE  WALL!"  179 

ready  to  acknowledge  defeat ;  and,  as  he  rode  back  to 
his  command,  he  cried  out  to  them  to  "  look  at  Jack- 
son '/'  saying,  "  There  he  stands  like  a  stone  wall ! 
Rally  behind  the  Virginians !"  The  cry  and  the  ex- 
ample had  its  effect,  and  the  broken  ranks  were  re- 
formed, and  led  to  another  charge,  when  their  leader 
fell  dead  with  his  face  to  the  foe.  But  with  his  last 
breath  he  had  christened  his  companion  in  arras,  in  the 
baptism  of  fire,  with  the  name  that  he  was  henceforth 
to  bear,  not  only  in  the  Southern  army,  but  in  history, 
of  Stonewall  Jackson,  while  the  troops  that  followed 
him  on  that  day  counted  it  glory  enough  to  bear  on 
their  colors  the  proud  title  of  the  "  Stonewall  Brigade." 

Soon  after  the  battle  he  writes  : 

"  Mr.  James  Davidson's  son,  Frederick,  and  William 
Page  (son  of  my  dear  friend)  were  killed.  Young 
Riley's  Hfe  was  saved  by  his  Bible,  which  was  in  the 
breast-pocket  of  his  coat.  ...  My  finger  troubles  me 
considerably,  and  renders  it  very  difficult  for  me  to 
write,  as  the  wind  blows  my  paper,  and  I  can  only 
use  my  right  hand.  I  have  an  excellent  camping- 
ground  about  eight  miles  from  Manassas  on  the  road 
to  Fairfax  Court  House.  I  am  sleeping  in  a  tent,  and 
have  requested  that  the  one  which  my  darling  had 
the  loving  kindness  to  order  for  me  should  not  be  sent. 
If  it  is  already  made,  we  can  use  it  in  time  of  peace. 
.  General  Lee  has  recently  gone  to  the  western 
part  of  our  State,  and  I  hope  we  may  soon  hear  that 
our  God  has  again  crowned  our  arms  with  victory." 

"  August  5th.    And  so  you  think  the  papers  ought  to 
say  more  about  your  husband !     My  brigade  is  not  a 


180     LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

brigade  of  newspaper  correspondents.  I  know  that  the 
First  Brigade  was  the  first  to  meet  and  pass  our  retreat- 
ing forces — to  push  on  with  no  other  aid  than  the  smiles 
of  God ;  to  boldly  take  its  position  with  the  artillery 
that  was  under  my  command — to  arrest  the  victorious 
foe  in  his  onward  progress — to  hold  him  in  check  un- 
til reinforcements  arrived — and  finally  to  charge  bay- 
onets, and,  thus  advancing,  pierce  the  enemy's  centre. 
I  am  well  satisfied  with  what  it  did,  and  so  are  my 
generals,  Johnston  and  Beauregard.  It  is  not  to  be 
expected  that  I  should  receive  the  credit  that  Gen- 
erals Beauregard  and  Johnston  would,  because  I  was 
under  them  ;  but  I  am  thankful  to  my  ever-kind  Heav- 
enly Father  that  He  makes  me  content  to  await  His 
own  good  time  and  pleasure  for  commendation — know- 
ing that  all  things  work  together  for  my  good.  If  my 
brigade  can  always  play  so  important  and  useful  a 
part  as  it  did  in  the  last  battle,  I  trust  I  shall  ever  be 
most  grateful.  As  you  think  the  papers  do  not  notice 
me  enough,  I  send  a  specimen,  which  you  will  see  from 
the  upper  part  of  the  paper  is  a  leader.  ]My  darling, 
never  distrust  our  God,  who  doeth  all  things  Tvell. 
In  due  time  He  will  make  manifest  all  His  pleasure, 
which  is  all  His  people  should  desire.  You  must  not 
be  concerned  at  seeing  other  parts  of  the  army  lauded, 
and  my  brigade  not  mentioned.  '  Truth  is  mighty 
and  will  prevail.'  When  the  official  reports  are  pub- 
lished, if  not  before,  I  expect  to  see  justice  done  this 
noble  body  of  patriots.  My  command  consists  of  the 
Second,  Fourth,  Fifth,  Twenty-seventh,  and  Thirt\^- 
third  regiments  of  Virginia  Volunteers,  commanded 
respectively  by  Colonels  James  W.  Allen,  James  F. 
Preston,  Kenton  Harper,  W.  W.  Gordon,  and  A.  C. 


A   CHARACTERISTIC   LETTER.  igx 

Cummings  ;  and,  in  addition,  we  have  Colonel  Pendle- 
ton's Battery.  My  staff-officers  are  Lieutenant-colonel 
Francis  B.  Jones,  acting  adjutant-general ;  Lieutenant- 
colonel  J.  ^V.  Massie,  aide;  Lieutenant  A.  S.  Pendle- 
ton, ordnance  officer ;  Captain  John  A.  Harman,  quar- 
termaster; and  Captain  W.  J.  Hawkes,  commissary.'' 

Dr.  Dabney  says :  "  It  is  due  to  the  credit  of  Jack- 
son's wisdom  in  the  selection  of  his  instruments,  and  to 
the  gallant  and  devoted  men  who  composed  this  staff, 
to  state  that  all  of  them  who  survived  rose  Avith  their 
illustrious  leader  to  corresponding  j)osts  of  usefulness 
and  distinction."  A  number  of  other  officers  subse- 
quently served  upon  his  staff,  who  deserve  to  be  includ- 
ed in  this  eulogy.     General  Jackson  continues : 

"  August  10th.  .  .  .  Prince  Napoleon  passed  here 
on  the  evening  of  the  8th,  en  route  from  Washington 
to  Manassas.  He  spent  the  night  with  General  John- 
ston, took  a  view  of  the  battle-field  yesterday  morning, 
and  then  returned  to  Washington,  passing  here  about 
eleven  o'clock  a.m.     I  only  saw  him  at  a  distance." 

A  day  or  two  after  the  battle  of  Manassas,  and  be- 
fore the  news  of  the  victory  had  reached  Lexington 
in  authentic  form,  the  post-office  was  thronged  with 
people,  awaiting  with  intense  interest  the  opening 
of  the  mail.  Soon  a  letter  was  handed  to  the  Kev. 
Dr.  White,  Avho  immediately  recognized  the  well- 
known  superscription  of  his  deacon  soldier,  and  ex- 
claimed to  the  eager  and  expectant  group  around  him  : 
"  Xow  we  shall  know  all  the  facts."  ITpon  opening 
it  the  bulletin  read  thus : 


182      LTFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

"  My  dear  pastor,  in  m v  tent  last  night,  after  a  fa- 
ticruino:  dav's  service,  I  remembered  that  I  had  failed 
to  send  you  my  contribution  for  our  colored  Sunday- 
school.  Enclosed  you  will  find  my  check  for  that  ob- 
ject, which  please  acknowledge  at  your  earliest  conven- 
ience, and  oblige  vours  faithfully,      T.  J.  Jackson." 

This  little  note  is  a  revelation  of  character.  It  is 
remarkable,  not  so  much  for  what  it  says  as  for  what 
it  does  not  say.  Not  a  w^ord  in  it  about  the  battle  or 
about  himself — he  who  turned  the  defeat  into  victory. 
In  that  hour  of  triumph  his  heart  turned  away  from  the 
field  to  the  poor  negro  children  whom  he  had  been  ac- 
customed to  teach  in  the  Sunday-school  in  Lexington. 

In  his  next  letter  General  Jackson  writes  :  "  I  have 
received  a  circular  to  the  effect  that  two  professors 
must  return  to  the  Institute  at  the  opening  of  the 
session,  the  1st  of  September,  and  that  if  that  number 
do  not  consent  to  return,  the  Board  of  Visitors  will 
designate  two ;  and  if  they  decline,  their  seats  w411 
thereby  be  declared  vacant,  and  the  board  would  fill 
them.  I  declined  returning.  How  would  you  like 
going  back  to  Lexington  in  September,  and  staying 
there  for  the  remainder  of  the  war  ?  .  .  .  I  am  glad 
that  the  battle  [First  Manassas]  was  fought  on  your 
birthday,  so  3^ou  can  never  tell  me  any  more  that  I 
forget  your  birthday.  See  if  I  don't  ahvaj^s  remem- 
ber it,  though  I  do  not  my  owm.  If  General  Lee  re- 
mains in  the  Northwest,  I  would  like  to  go  there  and 
give  my  feeble  aid,  as  an  humble  instrument  in  the 
hand  of  Providence  in  retrieving  the  downtrodden 
loyalty  of  that  part  of  my  native  State.  But  I  desire 
to  be  wlierever  those  over  me  may  decide,  and  I  am 


NEVER  ABSENT  FROM  UV1Y.  183 

content  here.    The  success  of  our  cause  is  the  earthly 
object  near  my  heart ;  and,  if  I  know  mysel    all  I  am 
and  have  is  at  the  service  of  my  country.      Abou 
this  time  he  wrote  to  his  friend,  Colonel  Bennett,  First 
Auditor  of  the  Commonwealth : 

"  Mv  hopes  for  our  section  of  the  State  have  greatly 
bri-htened  since  General  Lee  has  gone  there.     Some- 
thing  brilliant   may   be    expected    in   that    region. 
Should  vou  ever  have  occasion  to  ask  for  a  brigade 
from  this  anny  for  the  Northwest,  I  hope  mine  wil 
be  the  one  selected.     This  of  course  is  confidential,  as 
it  is  my  dutv  to  serve  wherever  I  may  be  placed,  and 
I  desire  to  be  always  where  most  needed      But  it  is 
natural  for  one's  affections  to  turn  to  the  home  of  his 
boyhood  and  family." 

August  17th  he  writes  to  his  wife : 

"  Tou  want  to  know  whether  I  could  get  a  fur- 
lough    Mv  darling,  I  can't  be  absent  from  my  com- 
mand, as  mv  attention  is  necessary  in  preparing  my 
troops  for  hard  fighting  should  it  be  required ;  and  as 
mv  officers  and  soldiers  are  not  permitted  to  go  and 
se;  their  wives  and  families,  I  ought  not  to  see  my 
esposita,  as  it  might  make  the  troops  feel  that    hey 
.4e  badlv  treated,  and  that  I  consult  my  own  pleas- 
ure and  comfort  regardless  of   theirs:   so   you  had 
better  stav  at  Cottage  Home  for  the  present,  as  I  do 
not  know  how  long  I  shall  remain  here. 

From  the  time  he  entered  the  army  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  war  he  never  asked  or  received  a  fur- 


ISi      LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX 

lougli,  was  never  absent  from  duty  for  a  single  day, 
whether  sick  or  well,  and  never  slept  one  night  out- 
side the  lines  of  his  own  command. 

Auofust  22d  he  wi'ites :  "  Don't  you  wish  vour 
espow  would  get  sick,  and  have  to  get  a  sick  leave 
and  go  home,  so  that  you  couldn't  envy  sister  Sue  ? 
ISickness  may  compel  me  for  a  time  to  retire  from 
camp,  but,  through  the  blessing  of  God,  I  have  been 
able  to  continue  in  command  of  my  brigade.  .  .  . 
Still  much  remains  undone  that  I  desire  to  see  effected. 
But  in  a  short  time  I  hope  to  be  more  instrumental  in 
serving  my  country.  Every  officer  and  soldier  who  is 
able  to  do  duty  ought  to  be  busily  engaged  in  mil- 
itary preparation  by  hard  drilling,  in  order  that, 
through  the  blessing  of  God,  we  may  be  victorious  in 
the  battles  which  in  His  all-wise  providence  may  await 
us.  I  wish  my  darling  could  be  with  me  now  and 
enjoy  the  sweet  music  of  the  brass  band  of  the  Fifth 
Regiment.     It  is  an  excellent  band." 

He  delighted  in  listening  to  music,  both  instrumental 
and  vocal,  but  he  had  so  little  talent  for  it  that  it  was 
with  difficulty  he  could  distinguish  tunes.  When  he 
learned  that  the  tune  of  "  Dixie  "  had  been  adopted  by 
the  Confederates  as  a  national  air,  he  felt  that  he  ouo^ht 
to  be  able  to  know  it  when  he  heard  it,  so  durino-  the 
first  visit  T  paid  him  in  camp  he  requested  me  to  sing 
the  air  to  liim  until  he  could  impress  it  upon  his  mem- 
ory, so  as  to  be  able  to  recognize  it.  It  was  a  tedious 
service,  and  became  so  perfectly  ridiculous  from  his 
oft-repeated  command  of  "again"  and  "again"  that 
it  fmallv  ended  in  hearty  laughter  on  both  sides. 


AT   FAIRFAX  CODET-HOUSE.  185 

In  liis  letter  he  continues  : 

"  Don't  put  any  faith  in  the  assertion   that   tliere 
will  be  no  more  fighting  till  October.     It  may  not  be 
till  then ;  and  God  grant  that,  if  consistent  with  His 
will,  it  may  never  be.    Surely,  I  desire  no  more,  if  our 
country's  independence  can  be  secured  without  it.     As 
I  said  before  leaving  my  darling,  so  say  I  now,  that  it 
I  fight  for  my  country,  it  is  from  a  sense  of  duty— 
a  hope  that  through  the  blessing  of   Providence  I 
may  be  enabled  to  serve  her,  and  not  merely  because 
I  prefer  the  strife  of  battle  to  the  peaceful  enjoyments 
of  home.  .  .  •  Yesterday  the  enemy  drove  in  our  pick- 
ets and  General  Longstreet  sent  me  a  request  to  move 
forward  with  my  brigade,  and  the  consequence  was 
that  after  advancing  beyond  Fairfax  Court-House  six 
miles  it  turned  out  that  the  enemy  did  not  intend  to 
attack,  and  I  had  a  ride  of  twelve  miles  for  nothing; 
and  my  wounded  finger  suffered  from  it,  but  I  trust 
with  the  blessing  of  an  ever-kind  Providence,  it  will 
soon  be  well.     I  meet  with  a  number  of  old  army 
friends  and  some  of  my  classmates,  which  is  quite  a 
pleasure     The  country  about  Fairfax  Court  House  is 
beautiful     As  I  came  in  sight  of  the  place,  the  sun 
was  near  setting,  and  with  its  mellowed  light  greatly 
contributed   to  beautify  the  scenery.     I  am  writing 
under  a  Siblev  tent,  which  is  of   a  conical  form,  so 
constructed  as  to  allow  fire  to  be  used,  having  an 
openino-  at  the  top  for  the  escape  of  smoke;  though 
as  yet !  have  had  my  fires  in  the  house.     The  weather 
is  quite  cool  at  night.     What  do  you  think  ^     Tins 
mornino-  I  had  a  kind  of  longing  to  see  our  lot-not 
our  house,  for  I  did  not  want  to  enter  its  desolate 


186  LIl"^!^   OF  GEXEKAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

chambers,  as  it  would  be  too  sad  not  to  Und  my  little 
sunshine  there." 

From  Camp  Harnian,  near  Manassas,  he  wrote  : 

''  Yesterday  I  received  two  letters  from  one  little 
jewel  of  mine  at  Cottage  Home,  and  1  am  just  going 
to  read  them  over  and  over  again  and  answer.  First, 
in  reference  to  coming  to  see  your  ei<poso^  what  would 
you  do  for  privacy  in  camp  {  I  tell  you  there  are 
more  inconveniences  attending  camp  life  for  a  lady 
than  little  pet  is  aware  of;  and  worst  of  all  is  the 
danger  3^ou  might  encounter  in  such  a  trip,  as  the  cars 
are  so  crowded  with  soldiers.  But  I  would  dearly 
love  to  have  my  darling  here  at  this  time,  and  think  I 
miglit  probably  be  able  to  get  a  room  for  you  with  a 
kind  family  in  whose  yard  I  have  my  tent.  The 
family  is  exceedingly  obliging,  and  we  could  have  de- 
lightful times  together,  as  I  have  to  stay  about  quar- 
ters on  account  of  my  wounded  finger.  However, 
through  the  blessing  of  an  ever-kind  Providence,  it  is 
now  much  improved.  Should  there  be  a  good  escort 
coming  on  and  returning,  little  one  can  come ;  but  you 
must  not  spare  any  expense  in  making  your  trip  com- 
fortable. You  must  hire  a  carriage  whenever  you 
haven't  a  safe  and  good  conveyance,  in  the  event  of 
your  coming.  Last  Sabbath  Dr.  Pendleton  preached 
at  my  headquarters  in  the  morning,  and  Rev.  Peyton 
Harrison  preached  in  the  evening.  ...  If  the  war  is 
carried  on  with  vigor,  I  think  that,  under  the  blessing 
of  God,  it  will  not  last  long,  though  we  may  frequently 
have  little  local  troubles  along  the  frontier.  ...  At 
present  it  would  be  improper  for  me  to  be  absent 


PERMISSIOX   TO   PAY    HDI   A  VISIT.  I87 

from  my  brigade  a  single  day,  but  just  as  soon  as  duty 
will  permit  I  hope  to  see  my  sunshiny  face.  The  rea- 
son of  my  changing  my  advice  about  your  coming  was 
probably  in  consequence  of  orders  respecting  a  march. 
Within  the  last  three  weeks  I  have  had  to  march  off 
several  times,  but  in  each  case  I  have  been  privileged 
to  return  to  my  present  encampment,  where  I  desii^e 
to  stay  as  long  as  I  am  to  remain  inactive,  for  it  is  the 
best  encampment  I  have  had.  We  are  blessed  with 
excellent  water  and  a  good  drill-ground.  Little  one 
can  come  on  with  the  first  good  opportunity,  if  she  is 
willing  to  bear  the  unexpected  occurrences  of  war.  I 
know  not  one  day  what  will  take  place  the  next,  but  I 
do  know  that  I  am  your  doting  esj)osoy 

It  was  my  good  fortune  to  find  an  escort  to  the  army, 
and  I  joyfully  set  out,  in  compliance  with  my  husband's 
somewhat  doubtful  permission,  to  pay  him  a  visit.  But 
he  was  not  mistaken  in  apprehending  the  difficulties  I 
should  encounter,  as  will  be  seen  \)y  my  experience  in 
making  this  journey  through  a  beleaguered  country.  We 
reached  Richmond  safely  and  without  much  discomfort, 
but  no  one  was  permitted  to  leave  without  a  passport, 
which  the  government  was  exceedingly  strict  in  grant- 
ing to  men  unless  they  were  engaged  in  the  service  of  the 
army  or  Avere  going  into  it.  Unfortunately,  my  young 
man  did  not  come  under  either  head  (although  he  was 
going  upon  an  inspecting  tour  with  a  view  to  finding- 
some  position  among  his  friends),  so  he  was  refused  a 
passport !  Like  most  of  the  Southern  ladies  in  ante- 
helium  times,  I  was  unaccustomed  to  travelling  alone, 
and  my  husband  was  much  opposed  to  my  doing  so. 
However,  after  coming  so  near  to  him  (and  yet  so  far !) 


1S8  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 

I  could  not  give  up  this  long-coveted  opportunity  of 
seeing  him,  and  I  determined  to  venture  on  my  way 
alone.  So  after  telegraphing  him  to  meet  me  at  Ma- 
nassas, I  started  with  my  passport  as  bravely  as  I 
couk],  yet  filled  wnth  apprehension  —  the  cars  being 
crowded  with  soldiers,  and  scarcely  a  Avoman  to  be 
seen.  An  hour  or  two  after  leaving  Eichmond,  what 
was  my  joy  and  relief  to  see  a  friend  from  Charlotte, 
Korth  Carolina,  passing  through  the  car  I  I  sprang 
from  my  seat  and  rushed  after  him,  and  from  that 
moment  my  mind  was  at  ease,  for  Captain  J.  Harvey 
White  (a  gallant  officer,  who  afterwards  fell  in  defence 
of  his  country)  verified  in  my  case  the  old  proverb,  "A 
friend  in  need  is  a  friend  indeed."  My  husband  failed 
to  receive  my  telegram  in  time  to  meet  me  at  Manas- 
sas, and,  finding  no  accommodation  there  for  a  lady, 
Captain  White  was  unwilling  to  leave  me  without  pro- 
tection, and  advised  me  to  go  on  with  him  to  Fairfax 
Station,  thinking  that  point  was  still  nearer  to  General 
Jackson's  headquarters.  However,  my  husband  did 
arrive  at  Manassas  very  soon  after  we  passed  on,  and  it 
was  then  too  late,  and  the  distance  too  great  for  him 
to  follow  us  that  night.  Fairfax  Station  we  found 
converted  into  a  vast  military  camp,  the  place  teem- 
\wz  with  soldiers,  and  the  only  house  visible  from  the 
depot  being  used  as  a  hospital.  Not  a  place  to  accom- 
modate a  lady  was  to  be  found,  so  I  was  compelled  to 
spend  the  night  in  the  car  in  which  I  came  up,  the 
train  remaining  stationary  there  until  the  next  morn- 
ing. One  other  female,  a  plain,  good  woman,  who  was 
in  search  of  a  sick  relative  among  the  soldiers,  was  of 
the  party,  and  Captain  White,  our  kind  protector.  A 
lady  seemed  to  be  a  great  curiosity  to  the  soldiers, 


MEETING   AFTER   FIVE  MONTHS'  SEPARATION.         189 

scores  of  whom  filed  through  the  car  to  take  a  look, 
until  the  annoyance  became  so  great  that  Captam 
White  locked  the  doors.     The  next  morning  was  the 
Sabbath,  and  as  Captain  White  was  hastening  to  a 
sick  brother,  he  was  compelled  to  go  on  his  mission, 
but  he  first  procured  for  me  a  small  room,  which  was 
vacated  for  a  few  hours  just  for  my  accommodation,  in 
the  house  that  was  used  as  a  hospital.     There  w^as  no 
lock  on  the  door,  and  the  tramp  of  men's  feet,  as  they 
passed  continually  to  and  fro  and  threatened  entrance, 
was  not  conducive  to  a  peaceful  frame  of  mind ;  and 
the  outlook  was  still  more  dismal,  the  one  small  win- 
dow in  the  room  revealing  the  spectacle  of  a  number 
of  soldiers  in  the  yard,  busily  engaged  in  7naUiig  coffins 
for  their  dead  comrades !     I  was  all  alone,  and  had 
nothing  to  read,  so  it  can  be  imagined  that  the  few 
anxious  and  dreary  hours  spent  in  that  little  place  of 
horrors   seemed   an   age,  and    my  relief    and   happi- 
ness were  truly  inexpressible  when  the  brightest  vision 
that  could  be  to  me  on  earth  appeared  in  the  person  of 
my  dear  husband,  whom  I  had  not  seen  for  five  months. 
He  drove  up  in  an  ambulance,  and,  taking  me  in,  w^e 
w^ere  speedily  driven  to  his  headquarters.     Arrived 
there,  Ave  found  his  whole  brigade  assembled  for  di- 
vine w-orship,  and  the  venerable  Bishop  Johns  w^as  just 
about  to  begin  service  in  a  small  farm-house  on  the 
grounds.     A  delay  was  made  in  order  to  give  us  time 
to  get  into  the  house  and  be  seated  ;  and  all  the  staff- 
ofiicers,  and  it  seemed  to  me  a  host  of  others,  came 
forward  to  welcome  their  general's  w^ife,  much  to  my 
embarrassment,  for  I  felt  most  unpresentable  after  my 
experience  of  the  preceding  night. 

The  bishop  conducted  a  delightful  service  in  the 


190  LIFE   OF    GE-VERAL   THOMAS   J.  JACKSON. 

porch  of  the  house,  and  the  soldiers  swarmed  around 
him  like  bees,  standing  and  sitting  in  the  grassy  yard. 
It  was  an  interesting  and  imposing  scene.  The  bri- 
gade was  encamped  on  a  beautiful  hill  near  Cen- 
treville.  and  General  Jackson's  tent  was  in  the  yard 
of  the  farm-house  at  which  he  secured  lodging  dur- 
ing my  visit.  It  was  a  grand  spectacle  to  view 
from  the  crest  of  the  hill  the  encampment  of  that 
splendid  Stonewall  Brigade,  especially  at  night,  when 
the  camp-fires  were  lighted.  I  met  there  for  the  first 
time  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  and  was  much 
impressed  with  his  soldierly  appearance  and  pol- 
ished manners.  Indeed,  the  officers  and  soldiers  gen- 
erally made  the  impression  of  fine  specimens  of  the 
Southern  gentleman,  and  the  grand  review  of  the 
whole  of  General  Johnston's  command  was  the  most 
imposing  military  display  that  I  had  ever  witnessed. 
General  Jackson  was  justly  proud  of  his  brigade,  and 
their  affection  for  him  was  beautiful  to  behold.  They 
all  felt  so  inspirited  by  the  great  victory  they  had  just 
gained,  and  their  general's  part  in  it  was  rehearsed 
with  pride  by  every  one  who  called  upon  his  wife, 
while  he,  with  his  characteristic  modesty,  gave  all  the 
credit  to  his  noble  men. 

He  took  me  over  the  battle-field  of  Manassas.  There 
was  nothing  remarkable  about  the  ground,  w^hich  was 
somewhat  undulating,  with  many  open  spaces  and 
pine-trees.  Bull  Run  is  a  small,  insignificant  stream. 
General  Pendleton  accompanied  us  in  the  ambulance, 
and  both  officers  explained  the  different  positions  and 
movements  of  the  two  armies,  and  talked  the  battle 
over  in  a  very  interesting  manner.  Much  of  the  debris 
of  the  conflict  still  remained  :  the  old  Henrv  house 


VISIT  TO  THE  BATTLE-FIELD.  ^9^^ 

was  riddled  with  shot  and  shell ;  the  carcasses  of  the 
horses,  and  even  some  of  the  bones  of  the  poor  human 
victims,  were  to  be  seen.  It  was  difficult  to  realize 
that  these  now  silent  plains  had  so  recently  been  the 
scene  of  a  great  battle,  and  that  here  the  Keaper 
Death  had  gathered  such  a  harvest  of  precious  lives, 
many  of  whom  were  the  very  flower  of  our  Southern 
youth  and  manhood. 

All  was  quiet  in  the  army  during  my  visit,  and  al- 
though my  husband  was  unremitting  in  his  duties  to 
his  command,  yet  he  had  sufficient  leisure  to  devote 
to  my  pleasure  to  make  the  time  pass  most  delight- 
f\il\y.  We  had  a  nice  room  in  a  kind,  obliging  fam- 
ily named  Utterbach,  and  I  took  my  meals  with  him 
and  his  staff  at  their  mess-table  under  the  trees.  The 
fare  was  plain,  but,  with  the  exception  of  the  absence 
of  milk,  it  was  abundant  and  substantial.  His  staff- 
officers  were  all  most  agreeable  and  intelligent  gentle- 
men. His  cook  at  that  time  was  a  very  black  negro. 
a  hired  man  named  George,  who  so  felt  the  importance 
of  his  position  as  the  head  of  the  culinary  department 
at  headquarters  that  his  boast  was :  "  I  outranks  all 
de  niggers  in  dis  army !"  Every  moment  of  the  time 
I  was  privileged  to  remain  was  full  of  content  and  en- 
joyment, and  that  camp  life  had  a  charm  for  me  that 
I  never  would  have  broken  myself.  But  all  things 
have  to  come  to  an  end  in  this  fleeting  world,  and  my 
delightful  visit  shared  this  fate  all  too  soon — the  army 
being  ordered  to  change  its  location  in  less  than  a  fort- 
night after  my  arrival — and  I  was  sent  back  sorrow- 
fully to  North  Carolina. 

My  visit  was  made  in  September,  and  General  Jack- 
son's next  letter  was  written  the  24th  of  that  month : 


192      LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

"  I  am  going  to  write  a  letter  to  my  darling  pet  esjpo- 
sita^  who  paid  me  such  a  sweet  visit,  and  whose  dear 
face  I  can  still  see,  though  she  is  'way  down  in  the 
Old  Xorth  State.  If  my  darling  were  here,  I  know 
she  would  enjoy  General  Jones's  band,  which  plays 
very  sweetly.  We  are  still  at  the  same  encampment 
as  when  ^'ou  left,  and  I  have  the  promise  of  three 
more  wall  tents.  Yesterdav  Eev.  Dr.  William  Brown 
visited  Munson's  Hill,  and  took  a  peep  at  the  Yankees. 
.  .  .  The  Board  of  Visitors  of  the  Institute  met  in  Rich- 
mond, and  decided  if  the  professors  did  not  return 
they  would  fill  their  places,  superintendents  and  all. 
Suppose  they  ask  you  to  go  back.  Are  you  going  to 
do  so,  or  will  you  let  them  fill  your  chair  ?  Colonel 
Echols  returned  this  morning,  but  does  not  bring,  to 
our  finite  minds,  very  good  news.  General  Floyd  was 
only  about  thirty  miles  west  of  Lewisburg,  and  General 
Wise  was  fifteen  miles  in  advance  of  him.  General  Lee, 
with  four  regiments,  had  gone  on  to  General  Wise." 

"  Monday  morning.  This  is  a  beautiful  and  lovely 
morning — beautiful  emblem  of  the  morning  of  eter- 
nity in  heaven.  I  greatly  enjoy  it  after  our  cold, 
chilly  weather,  which  has  made  me  feel  doubtful  of 
my  capacity,  humanly  speaking,  to  endure  the  cam- 
paign, should  we  remain  long  in  tents.  But  God,  our 
God.  does,  and  will  do,  all  things  well ;  and  if  it  is  His 
pleasure  that  I  should  remain  in  tlie  field,  He  will  give 
me  the  ability  to  endure  all  its  fatigues.  I  hope  my 
little  sunshiny  face  is  as  bright  as  this  lovely  day. 
Yesterday  I  heard  a  good  sermon  from  the  chaplain 
of  the  Second  Regiment,  and  at  night  I  went  over  to 
Colonel  Garland's  regiment  of  Longstreet's  Brigade, 


SERMON   OF   DR.  DABNEY.  193 

and  heard  an  excellent  sermon  from  the  Eev.  Mr. 
Granberry,  of  the  Methodist  chureh,  of  whom  you 
may  have  heard  me  speak  in  times  past."  ... 

"  20th.  I  did  not  have  room  enough  in  my  hist  let- 
ter, nor  have  I  time  this  morning,  to  write  as  much  as 
I  desired  about  Dr.  Dabney's  sermon  yesterday.  His 
text  was  from  Acts,  seventh  chapter  and  lifth  verse. 
He  stated  that  the  word  God  being  in  italics  indicated 
that  it  was  not  in  the  original,  and  he  thought  it  would 
have  been  better  not  to  have  been  in  the  translation. 
It  would  then  have  read :  '  Calling  upon  and  saymg. 
Lord  Jesus,  receive  my  spirit.'  He  spoke  of  Stephen, 
the  first  martyr  under  the  new  dispensation,  like  Abel, 
the  first  under  the  old,  dying  by  the  hand  of  violence, 
and  then  drew  a  graphic  picture  of  his  probably  broken 
limbs,  mangled  flesh  and  features,  conspiring  to  height- 
en his  a2:onizino;  sufferino^s.  But  in  the  midst  of  this 
intense  pain,  God,  in  His  infinite  wisdom  and  mercy, 
permitted  him  to  see  the  heavens  opened,  so  that  he 
might  behold  the  glory  of  God,  and  Jesus,  of  whom 
he  was  speaking,  standing  on  the  right  hand  of  God. 
Was  not  such  a  heavenly  vision  enough  to  make  him 
forgetful  of  his  sufferings  ?  He  beautifully  and  forci- 
bly described  the  death  of  the  righteous,  and  as  forci- 
bly that  of  the  wicked.  ... 

'*  Strangers  as  well  as  Lexino^ton  friends  are  verv 
kind  to  me.  I  think  about  eight  days  since  a  gentle- 
man sent  me  a  half -barrel  of  tomatoes,  bread,  etc., 
and  I  received  a  letter,  I  am  inclined  to  think  from 
the  same,  desiring  directions  how  to  send  a  second 
supply.  I  received  from  Colonel  Ruff  a  box  of  beau- 
tifully packed  and  delicately  flavored  plums ;  also  a 
13 


194:     LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

bottle  of  blackberry  vinegar  from  the  Misses  B . 

AVliat  I  need  is  a  more  grateful  heart  to  the  '  Giver  of 
every  good  and  perfect  gift.'  " 

"  Camp  near  Fairfax  Court-House,  Oct.  1st. 
''  Yesterday  I  rode  down  to  the  station,  and  while 
there  President  Davis,  very  unexpectedly  to  me,  ar- 
rived in  a  single  car ;  the  remaining  part  of  the  train, 
I  suppose,  stopped  at  the  Junction  to  unload.  He 
looked  quite  thin.  11  is  reception  was  a  hearty  cheer 
from  the  troops.  He  took  his  seat  in  an  ambulance- 
like carriage,  and  as  he  passed  on  his  Avay  to  the  Court- 
Ilouse  the  air  rang  with  the  soldiers'  welcoming  cheers. 
He  Avas  soon  met  by  a  troop  of  horse,  and  a  horse  for 
himself.  Leaving  his  carriage  and  mounting  his  horse, 
he  proceeded  on  his  way,  escorted  by  the  cavalry, 
about  four  thousand  of  the  First  Corps  (General 
Beauregard).  The  troops  belonged  to  Generals  Long- 
street,  D.  E.  Jones,  and  Philip  St.  George  Cocke.  It 
was  quite  an  imposing  pageant."  .  .  . 

"  Yesterday  I  saw  President  Davis  review.  He 
took  up  his  quarters  with  General  Beauregard,  where, 
in  company  with  Colonels  Preston,  Harmon,  and  Ech- 
ols, I  called  upon  him  this  morning  at  about  half-past 
ten  o'clock.  He  looks  thin,  but  does  not  seem  to  be 
as  feeble  as  yesterday.  His  voice  and  manners  are 
very  mild.  I  saw  no  exhibition  of  that  fire  which  I 
liad  supposed  him  to  possess.  The  President  intro- 
duced the  subject  of  the  condition  of  my  section  of  the 
State,  but  did  not  even  so  much  as  intimate  that  he 
designed  sending  me  there.  I  told  him,  when  he 
spoke  of  my  native  region,  that  I  felt  a  very  deep  in- 


LETTERS  TO   HIS  WIFE.  195 

terest  in  it.     lie  spoke  hopefully  of  that  section,  and 
highly  of  General  Lee." 

'•  October  14th.  I  am  going  to  write  a  letter  to  the 
very  sweetest  little  woman  I  know,  the  only  sweet- 
heart I  have ;  can  you  guess  who  she  is  ?  I  tell  you, 
I  would  like  to  see  my  sunshine,  even  this  brightest 
of  days,  ^ly  finger  has  been  healed  over  for  some 
time,  and  I  am  blest  by  an  ever -kind  Providence 
with  the  use  of  it,  though  it  is  still  partially  stiff.  I 
hope,  however,  in  the  course  of  time,  tliat  I  shall  be 
again  blest  with  its  perfect  use.  ...  If  I  get  into 
winter -quarters,  will  little  ex -Anna  Morrison  come 
and  keep  house  for  me,  and  stay  with  me  till  the  open- 
ing of  the  camjDaign  of  1862  ?  Now,  remember,  I  don't 
want  to  change  housekeepers.  I  w^ant  the  same  one 
all  the  time.  I  am  very  thankful  to  that  God  who 
Avithholds  no  good  thing  from  me  (though  I  am  so 
utterly  unworthy  and  ungrateful)  for  making  me  a 
major-general  in  the  Provisional  Army  of  the  Confed- 
erate States.  The  commission  dates  from  the  Tth  of 
October."  .  .  . 

"  October  15th.  The  enemy  are  gradually  approach- 
ing us." 

"  Centreville,  Oct.  21st. 

''  For  several  days  your  esposo  has  been  here,  and 
has  an  extra  nice  room,  the  parlor  of  a  Mr.  Grigsby, 
who  has  promised  that  he  will  also  let  me  have  another 
room  for  my  chamber,  and  then  I  can  use  the  parlor 
for  my  office.  He  has  very  kindly  offered  me  the  use 
of  his  library.  The  walls  of  his  parlor  are  hung  with 
pictures  and  paintings,  including  large  portraits  on 


196  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 

opposite  sides,  I  suppose  of  the  e.yws-o  and  esjjom.  The 
carpet  has  been  removed,  but  an  abundance  of  seats 
have  been  left,  two  settees  among  them.  Mr.  Grigsby 
is  apparently  a  man  of  much  character,  and  I  am  very 
much  pleased  with  him.  His  wife  is  delicate,  and  two 
of  his  sons  have  typhoid  fever,  but  are  past  the  crit- 
ical stage  of  the  disease,  lie  has  not  yet  consented 
to  my  staff  moving  into  the  house,  probably  for  fear 
of  disturbing  the  sick.  Colonel  Jones  has  resigned 
and  gone  home,  and  Mr.  Marshall  Avent  with  him. 
They  are  both  nice  gentlemen.-' 

"  Centreville,  Oct.  22d. 
.  .  .  ''  I  am  going  to  tell  you  just  where  your  esposo 
is  living  for  the  present.  Starting  from  Mr.  Utter- 
bach's  on  the  "Warrenton  road  towards  the  battle- 
o^round  of  Manassas,  a  street  turns  off  to  the  riofht 
from  the  Warrenton  road.  Following  the  street 
about  one  hundred  yards  brings  you  to  a  large  stone 
house,  with  four  chimneys,  on  the  right-hand  side  of 
the  road.  Passing  up  a  flight  of  steps  of  nearly  eight 
feet  brings  you  into  the  porch,  after  crossing  which 
you  enter  a  hall  about  ten  feet  wide,  and  you  have 
only  to  come  into  the  first  door  on  your  right  if  you 
wish  to  see  your  husband,  seated  on  the  left  of  a 
hickory  fire,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  room,  writ- 
ing to  his  sweetheart,  or  to  his  eqyostta,  Avhichever 
you  may  choose  to  call  her.  Looking  around  the 
room,  you  will  see  upon  the  mantel  a  statuette  of  a 
mother  with  a  child  in  her  arms,  an  oil  painting  of 
a  beautiful  boy,  a  globe  lamp,  two  candelabra,  and 
two  vases.  Above  the  mantel  are  two  rose  ])ictures. 
On  either  side  of  the  fireplace  is  a  window,  and  on 


BEFORE   HIS   HICKORY   FIRE.  1«37 

the  left  of  the  fire  are  a  pair  of  bellows  and  a  large 
shovel.  On  the  right  are  a  pair  of  tongs,  and  a  hand- 
some feather  broom  for  your  esposo  to  sweep  the 
hearth  with.  So  far  I  have  described  only  the  south- 
ern wall.  Turning  yowv  eyes  to  the  right,  you  will 
see  two  Avindows  on  the  western  wall,  looking 
towards  the  battle-ground  of  the  21st  July.  On  the 
left  end  of  this  wall  hangs  the  celebrated  oil  paint- 
ino-,  '  Beatrice  Cenci.'  Between  the  windows  is  a 
large  portrait  (as  I  suppose)  of  Mrs.  Grigsby.  On 
the  right  of  the  right-hand  window  is  a  landscape 
painting.  XJpon  the  northern  wall  to  the  left  of  the 
door  is  a  picture,  '  The  Evening  Prayer,'  with  the  in- 
A^ocation,  'Defend  us  from  all  j)erils  and  dangers  of 
the  niofht.'  Xear  this  hano-s  a  thermometer.  On 
the  right  of  the  door  are  two  other  works  of  art,  and 
between  them  is  the  library  desk,  which  is  kindly 
placed  at  my  disposal.  Upon  the  eastern  wall,  left 
end,  is  a  picture  of  'Holyrood.'  Xear  it,  but  on  the 
right,  is  a  large  portrait  of  Mr.  Grigsby.  About 
the  centre  of  the  wall  is  a  large  mirror — on  its  right 
is  a  picture  called  'Innocence' — and  here  is  your 
loving  husband  I 

.  .  .  ''  Our  success  at  Leesburg  reflected  credit  upon 
Colonel  Evans  and  his  heroic  brigade. 

..."  I  have  written  to  Colonel  Preston,  of  Lex- 
ington, to  join  me.  My  desire  is  to  get  a  staff  spe- 
cially qualified  for  their  duties,  and  that  will  render 
the  greatest  possible  amount  of  service  to  their 
country.  Last  night,  Drs.  White  and  McFarland 
reached  here  and  are  staying  with  me.  They  are 
just  from  Synod  at  Petersburg,  and  give  a  very 
gratifying  account  of  things  there.     Dr.  McFarland 


19S      LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

is  a  noble  specimen  of  character/'  Tliis  was  the  Kev. 
Dr.  Francis  McFarhxnd.  Dr.  White  (General  Jack- 
son's pastor)  had  come  at  his  invitation  to  preach 
to  his  command.  Dr.  Dabney  thus  describes  the 
visit : 

'•  They  arrived  at  nightfall,  and  found  the  com- 
mander-in-chief on  the  spot,  communicating  in  person 
some  important  orders.  General  Jackson  merely 
paused  to  give  them  the  most  hurried  salutation  con- 
sistent with  respect,  and  without  a  moment's  dallying 
passed  on  to  execute  his  duties.  After  a  length  of 
time  he  returned,  all  the  work  of  the  evening  com- 
pleted, and  renewed  his  welcome  with  a  beaming 
face  and  warm  abandon  of  manner,  heaping  upon 
them  affectionate  attentions,  and  incjuiring  after  all 
their  households.  Dr.  White  spent  live  days  and 
nights  with  him,  preaching  daily.  In  the  general's 
quarters  he  found  his  morning  and  evening  worshij) 
as  regularly  held  as  it  had  been  at  home.  Jackson 
modestly  proposed  to  his  pastor  to  lead  in  this 
worship,  which  he  did  until  the  last  evening  of  his 
stay ;  when,  to  the  usual  request  of  pra3^ers,  he 
answered  :  '  General,  you  have  often  prayed  with  and 
for  me  at  home ;  be  so  kind  as  to  do  so  to-night.' 
Without  a  word  of  objection,  Jackson  took  the  sacred 
volume,  and  read  and  pra3^ed.  '  And  never  while  life 
lasts,'  said  the  pastor,  '  can  I  forget  that  prayer.  He 
thanked  God  for  sending  me  to  visit  the  army,  and 
prayed  that  He  would  own  and  bless  my  ministra- 
tions, both  to  officers  and  privates,  so  that  many 
souls  might  be  saved.  He  gave  thanks  for  what  it 
had  pleased  God  to  do  for  the  church  in  Lexington, 


HIS  FERVOR  IX  PRAYER.  X99 

"to  which  both  of  us  belong" — specially  for  the  re- 
vivals He  had  mercifully  granted  to  that  church, 
and  for  the  many  preachers  of  the  Gospel  sent  forth 
from  it.  He  then  prayed  for  the  pastor,  and  ever}^ 
member  of  his  family,  for  the  ruling  elders,  the 
deacons,  and  the  private  members  of  the  church, 
such  as  were  at  home,  and  especially  such  as  then 
belonged  to  the  army.  He  then  pleaded  Avith  such 
tenderness  and  fervor  that  God  would  baptize  the 
whole  army  with  His  holy  spirit,  that  my  own  hard 
heart  was  melted  into  penitence,  gratitude,  and  praise. 
When  we  had  risen  from  our  knees  he  stood  before 
his  camp  fire  with  that  cahii  dignity  of  mien  and 
tender  expression  of  countenance  for  which  he  Avas 
so  remarkable,  and  said:  "Doctor,  I  Avould  be  glad 
to  learn  more  fully  than  I  have  3^et  done  Avhat  your 
views  are  of  the  prayer  of  faith  ?•"  A  conversation 
then  commenced,  Avhicli  Avas  continued  long  after  the 
hour  of  midnight,  in  Avhich,  it  is  candidly  confessed, 
the  pastor  received  more  instruction  than  he  im- 
parted." 

Dr.  White  Avas  Avith  him  when  he  received  his 
order  to  go  to  his  ncAV  command  of  the  A^alle}^  Dis- 
trict, and  after  reading  it  he  handed  it  to  his  pastor, 
saying :  "  Such  a  degree  of  public  confidence  and  re- 
spect as  puts  it  in  one's  po\A^er  to  serve  his  country 
should  be  accepted  and  prized ;  but,  apart  from  that, 
promotion  among  men  is  only  a  temptation  and  a 
trouble.  Had  this  communication  not  come  as  an 
order,  I  should  instantly  have  declined  it,  and  con- 
tinued in  command  of  my  brave  old  brigade." 

To  his  Avife  he  Avrote  on  the  ^tli  of  XoA^ember: 


200  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

'*  This  morning  I  received  orders  to  proceed  to 
AVincliester.  I  am  assigned  to  the  command  of  the 
militar}'  district  of  the  Xorthern  frontier,  between 
the  Bkie  Ridge  and  the  Alleghany  ^Mountains,  and  I 
hope  to  have  my  little  dove  with  me  this  winter. 
How  do  you  like  the  programme  i  I  trust  I  may  be 
able  to  send  for  you  after  I  get  settled.  I  don't  ex- 
pect much  sleep  to-night,  as  my  desire  is  to  travel 
all  night,  if  necessary,  for  the  purpose  of  reaching 
Winchester  ])efore  day  to-morrow.  My  trust  is  in 
God  for  the  defence  of  that  country  [the  A^alley]. 
I  shall  have  great  labor  to  perform,  but,  through  the 
blessing  of  our  ever-kind  Heavenly  Father,  I  trust 
that  He  Avill  enable  me  to  accomplish  it.  Colonel 
Preston  and  Sandy  Pendleton  go  with  me." 

One  great  trial  to  him  in  going  to  this  new  field 
of  action  was  that  he  was  to  leave  behind  his  "  brave 
old  Brigade,-'  as  they  were  not  included  in  the  order. 
An  article  in  the  Richmond  Dispatch  of  that  date 
thus  describes  the  separation  : 

''  Tlie  writer  never  expects  to  witness  a  more  touch- 
ing scene.  Drawn  up  in  close  columns  stood  the  sub- 
altern officers  and  men  who  had  rushed  with  loud 
cheers  into  the  very  thickest  of  the  bloody  21st  of 
July  day,  and  opposed  with  the  combined  courage 
and  discipline  of  veterans  the  advance  of  the  con- 
fident foe — tlie  men  who  were  all  Virginia  troops,  and 
from  that  West  Augusta  to  which  Washington  had 
looked  in  olden  days  as  the  last  refuge  of  indepen- 
dence. Proudly  had  they  vindicated  the  historic 
fame  of  their  section  at  Manassas,  and  now  thev  had 


PARTING  FROM   IIIS   OLD   BRIGADE.  201 

again  formed  to  say  '  good-by '  to  their  loved  leader. 
The  glow  which  brightened  their  faces  and  lit  up  their 
flashing  eyes  in  the  fire  of  battle  was  gone.      They 
looked  like  children  separating  from  a  father;  and 
striking  indeed  to  those  who  saw  those  brave  men  in 
the  battle  was  the  contrast  in  their  bearing  then  and 
to-day.     Virginia  has  reason  to  be  proud  of  all  her 
troops,  but  to  Jackson's  brigade  she  owes  her  largest 
debt.     The  appearance  of   General  Jackson  was  re- 
ceived with  not  the  slightest  applause.     The  officers 
and  men  he  commanded  knew  for  Avliat  purpose  they 
had  been  formed,  and  felt  not  like  cheering.     General 
Jackson  briefly  and  feelingly  addressed  his  assembled 
comrades   as   follows :    '  Officers   and   soldiers  of  the 
First  Brigade,  I  am  not  here  to  make  a  speech,  but 
simply  to  say  farewell.     I  first  met  you  at  Harper's 
Ferry  in  the  commencement  of  this  war,  and  I  can- 
not take  leave  of  you  without  giving  expression  to 
my  admiration  of  your  conduct  from  that  da\^  to  this, 
Avhether  on  the  march,  the  bivouac,  the  tented  field, 
or  on  the  bloody  plains  of  Manassas,  where  you  gained 
the    Avell-deserved  reputation   of  having  decided  the 
fate  of  the  battle.     Throughout  the  broad  extent  of 
country  over  Avhich  you  have  marched,  by  your  re- 
spect for  the  rights  and  property  of  citizens,  you  have 
shown  that  you  were  soldiers,  not  only  to  defend,  but 
able  and  Avilling  both  to  defend  and  protect.     You 
have  already  gained  a  brilliant  and  deservedly  high 
reputation  throughout  the  army  and  the  whole  Con- 
federacy, and  I  trust,  in   the  future,  by  your   own 
deeds  on  the  field  and  by  the  assistance  of  the  same 
kind    Providence   who    has    heretofore    favored    our 
cause,  that    you   will  gain   more   victories   and   add 


202      LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

additional  lustre  to  the  reputation  you  noNv  enjoy. 
You  have  already  gained  a  proud  position  in  the 
history  of  this  our  second  ^var  of  independence.  I 
shall  look  ^vith  great  anxiety  to  your  future  move- 
ments, and  I  trust  whenever  I  shall  hear  of  the  First 
Brigade  on  the  field  of  battle  it  will  be  of  still  nobler 
deeds  achieved  and  higher  reputation  won.' 

''  Here  General  Jackson,  rising  in  his  stirrups,  and 
casting  Iiis  bridle  reins  upon  the  neck  of  his  steed, 
with  an  emphasis  which  seemed  to  thrill  throughout 
the  brigade,  said:  *In  the  Army  of  the  Shenandoali 
3^ou  were  the  First  brigade ;  in  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  you  were  the  First  brigade ;  in  the  Second 
Corps  of  the  army  you  were  the  Fird  brigade ;  you 
are  the  First  brigade  in  the  affections  of  your  general : 
and  I  hope  by  your  future  deeds  and  bearing  that 
3^ou  will  be  handed  down  to  posterity  as  the  First 
brigade  in  this  our  second  AVar  of  Independence. 
Farewell  I'  For  a  moment  there  was  a  pause,  and 
then  three  loud  and  prolonged  clieers  rent  the  air. 
It  was  followed  by  three  and  three  more.  Unable  to 
stand  such  evidence  of  affection  any  longer,  General 
Jackson  waved  farewell  and  galloped  away.  The 
different  regiments  returned  slowly  to  their  quarters, 
and  thus  ended  a  scene  not  often  witnessed,  and 
which  makes  upon  spectators  impressions  not  easily 
eradicated." 


CHAPTER  XII. 

WINCHESTER  AND   ROMNEY  EXPEDITION— 18G 1-1 862. 

AVe  will  now  follow  General  Jackson  to  Winchester, 
which  he  made  his  headquarters  during  the  winter  of 
1861 -1S62.  He  had  been  ordered  to  the  command  of 
the  Yalley  District,  without  troops  being  assigned  to 
him  ;  having,  as  we  have  seen,  to  leave  behind  him 
Jiis  chief  reliance  in  battle,  his  invincible  Stonewall 
Bricrade.  He  found  at  Winchester  only  a  small  force, 
consisting  of  a  part  of  three  brigades  of  militia  and  a 
few  companies  of  cavalry,  all  of  which  were  imper- 
fectly organized  and  poorly  equipped,  and  with  but 
little  training  or  experience.  He  lost  no  time  in  call- 
incr  out  all  the  remaining  militia  of  the  district,  and 
in  a  few  weeks  his  little  army  was  increased  to  about 
three  thousand  men.  To  the  instruction  and  drilling 
of  these  new  recruits  he  devoted  himself  with  the 
utmost  energy ;  and,  already  forming  plans  for  a  vig- 
orous forward  movement,  he  sent  a  petition  to  the 
government  for  reinforcements.  In  response  to  this 
request  he  had  the  great  gratification  of  having  his 
own  Stonewall  Brigade  sent  to  him,  about  the  middle 
of  November,  together  with  the  Rockbridge  Battery, 
now  commanded  by  Captain  McLaughlin. 

The  attachment  which  General  Jackson  felt  for  the 
men  that  had  been  trained  under  him,  and  his  pride 
in  them,  were  fully  reciprocated ;  as  one  of  them  ex- 


204     LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

pressed  it :  "  Wherever  the  voice  of  our  brave  and 
beloved  general  is  heard,  we  are  ready  to  follow.  I 
Iiave  read  of  the  devotion  of  soldiers  to  their  com- 
manders, but  history  contains  no  parallel  case  of  devo- 
tion and  affection  equal  to  that  of  the  Stonewall  Bri- 
gade for  Major-General  Jackson.  AVe  do  not  look  upon 
him  merely  as  our  commander — do  not  regard  him  as 
a  severe  discijilinarian,  as  a  politician,  as  a  man  seek- 
ing popularity — but  as  a  Christian  ;  a  brave  man  who 
appreciates  the  condition  of  a  common  soldier ;  as  a 
fatherly  protector ;  as  one  who  endures  all  hardships 
in  common  with  his  followers  ;  who  never  commands 
others  to  face  danger  without  putting  himself  in  the 
van.  The  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  soldiers  are 
always  made  known  in  exulting  shouts  whenever  he 
makes  his  appearance." 

General  Jackson  was  so  captivated  Avith  the  Yallev 
of  Virginia,  the  more  he  saw  of  it  in  his  campaigns, 
that  he  used  to  say  that  when  tlie  war  was  over  he 
wanted  to  have  a  home  in  the  Shenandoah  ^"alley. 
and  there  indulge  his  taste  for  rural  pursuits,  and  en- 
joy that  domestic  life  which  was  so  dear  to  him.  The 
beauty  and  grandeur  of  the  scenery,  with  its  chains 
of  mountains,  limpid  streams,  fine  forests,  dales,  and 
fertile  fields,  were  to  him  charming  beyond  descrip- 
tion. The  people  of  the  Yalley  were  not  unworthy  of 
it.  They  enjoyed  the  free  and  easy  lives  natural  to 
those  living  in  a  land  of  plenty,  and  dispensed  their 
hospitalities  with  grace  and  generosity ;  but  it  was  in 
adversity  that  their  noblest  qualities  were  illustrated. 
Dispkiying  a  loyalty  that  death  only  could  quench — 
patience  under  hardship  and  toil ;  calmness  and  hero- 
ism amid  the  storms  of  war,  which  destroved  and  des- 


LETTERS  TO   HIS  WIFE.  205 

olatecl  their  homes  and  country ;  the  first  to  rally  to 
the  defence  of  the  South,  and  the  last  to  give  it  up— 
who  can  ever  do  justice  to  the  nobleness  and  magna- 
nimity of  those  people  of  the  Yalley  ?  But  it  seems 
unfair  not  to  take  in  the  whole  of  Virginia  in  this 
tribute,  for  it  was  the  universal  testimony  of  the  Con- 
federate soldiers,  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of 
the  war,  that  the  Virginians,  as  long  as  they  had  a 
crust  of  bread,  would  share  it  with  the  soldiers  from 
other  States,  and  that  the  noble  women  of  Virginia 
never  wearied  in  their  ministrations  to  their  necessi- 
ties, especially  in  nursing  the  sick  and  wounded. 

On  the  9th  of  November  General  Jackson  wrote 
from  Winchester  to  his  wife :..."!  trust  that  my 
darling  little  wife  feels  more  gratitude  to  our  kind 
Heavenly  Father  than  pride  or  elation  at  my  promo- 
tion. Continue  to  pray  for  me,  that  I  may  live  to 
glorify  God  more  and  more,  by  serving  Ilini  and  our 
country.  ...  If  you  were  only  here,  3'OU  would  have 
a  very  nice  house,  the  description  of  which  I  Avill  post- 
pone until  after  answering  your  letters ;  and  if  there 
isn't  room,  it  will  be  deferred  for  the  next  letter,  as  it 
will  take  nearly  a  whole  letter  to  tell  you  how  verv 
nice  it  is.  And  if  your  husband  stays  here  this  Avin- 
ter,  he  hopes  to  send  one  of  his  aides  for  one  little 
somebody.  You  know  very  well  who  I  mean  by 
'  little  somebody.' 

''  And  now  for  an  answer  to  your  questions ;  and 
without  stating  ^^our  questions,  I  Avill  answer  them. 
My  command  is  enlarged,  and  embraces  the  Valley 
District,  and  the  troops  of  this  district  constitute  the 
Army  of  the  Valley ;  but  my  command  is  not  alto- 


206  LIFE   OF   GENERAL  THOMAS   J.  JACKSON. 

gether  independent,  as  it  is  embraced  in  the  Depart- 
ment of  ]Vorthern  Virginia,  of  Avliich  General  John- 
ston has  the  command.  There  are  three  armies  in  this 
department— one  under  General  Beauregard,  another 
under  General  Holmes,  and  the  third  under  my  com- 
mand. My  headquarters  are  for  the  present  at  Win- 
chester. A  major-general's  rank  is  inferior  to  that  of 
a  full  general.  The  rank  of  major-general  does  not 
appear  to  be  recognized  by  the  laws  of  the  Confeder- 
ate States,  so  far  as  I  have  seen ;  but  there  may  be 
some  law  embraced  in  the  Army  Eegulations  which  I 
have  not  seen.  At  all  events,  the  President  appoints 
tliem  in  the  Provisional  Army  of  the  Confederate 
States,  and  these  appointments  are  only  for  the  war. 
As  the  regulations  of  the  army  of  the  Confederate 
States  do  not  require  the  rank  of  major-general,  there 
is  no  pay  and  no  staff  appointed  for  it ;  but  I  ex- 
pect to  have  two  aides,  and  at  least  an  adjutant- 
general.  I  am  making  up  my  staff  slowly,  in  conse- 
quence of  desiring  to  secure  a  good  one,  and  some  of 
them  being  at  a  distance.  My  promotion  places  me 
between  a  brigadier  and  a  full  general ;  but  I  don't 
think  that  either  a  major-general  or  a  full  general 
will  be  paid  any  more  than  $301  per  month  (the  pay 
of  a  brigadier),  but  as  commander  of  an  army  my 
additional  pay  is  8100,  making  in  all  S-101  per  month. 
I  send  you  a  check  for  $1000,  which  I  wish  invested 
in  Confederate  bonds,  as  I  think,  as  far  as  possible, 
persons  should  take  Confederate  bonds,  so  as  to  re- 
lieve the  government  from  any  pecuniary  pressure. 
You  had  better  not  sell  your  cou})ons  from  the  bonds, 
as  I  understand  they  are  paid  in  gold,  but  let  the 
Confederacy  keep  the  gold.     Citizens  should  not  re- 


LOOKING   AFTER   HIS   SERVANTS.  207 

ceive  a  cent  of  gold  from  the  government  Avhen  it  is 
so  scarce.  The  only  objection  to  parting  with  your 
coupons  is,  that,  if  they  are  payable  in  gold,  it  will  be 
taking  just  so  much  out  of  the  Treasury,  when  it  needs 
all  it  has.  Give  my  love  and  congratulations  to  Will- 
iam [his  brother-in-law.  Major  W.  W.  Morrison]  upon 
his  promotion.  I  saw  Captain  Barringer  at  Manas- 
sas, and  his  regiment  of  cavalry  presented  a  fine  ap- 
pearance. I  send  you  a  letter  announcing  that  Amy 
[his  faithful  old  servant]  has  gone  to  a  better  world. 
The  tears  came  to  my  eyes  more  than  once  while  read- 


ing it.- 


The  following  extracts  from  letters  to  a  gentleman 
in  Lexington  will  show  that  he  took  time  to  attend 
both  to  the  temporal  and  spiritual  interests  of  his  ser- 
vants, even  in  the  midst  of  absorbing  military  occu- 
pations : 

'*■  I  desire,  if  practicable,  that  my  boys  shall  have 
the  opportunity  of  attending  the  colored  Sabbath- 
school  in  Lexington,  if  it  is  still  in  operation.  I  am 
glad  to  hear  that  they  are  both  well,  and  I  trust, 
through  the  blessing  of  an  overruling  Providence,  they 
will  serve  you  faithfully.  It  is  gratifying  to  know  that 
they  are  in  such  good  hands  as  yours.  .  .  .  Should  you 
not  need  George,  please  hire  him  to  some  suitable 
person,  with  the  condition  that,  if  in  or  near  town,  he 
be  required  to  attend  Sabbath-school ;  and  wherever 
he  may  be,  let  him  be  required  to  attend  church  at 
suitable  times,  as  I  am  very  desirous  that  the  spiritual 
interests  of  my  servants  shall  be  attended  to.  .  .  . 
I  thank  you  for  your  kindness  in  taking  such  good 


208  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   THOMAS   J.  JACKSON. 

care  of  my  lot.  Any  expense  that  you  may  incur  in 
keeping  up  fences,  etc.,  please  let  me  know,  and  I  will 
settle  it.  I  did  not  expect  to  hear  of  the  grass  taking 
so  well.  Please  sell  the  wheat  and  deposit  the  pro- 
ceeds in  the  Bank  of  Eockbridge.'' 

The  new  and  enlarged  field  of  labor  to  which  Gen- 
eral Jackson  had  been  promoted  required  some  addi- 
tions to  his  statf ,  and  in  consequence  he  received  many 
applications  from  persons  desiring  to  secure  these  po- 
sitions either  for  themselves  or  their  friends  and  rela- 
tives.    In  writing  upon  this  subject  he  says  : 

''My  desire  is  to  get  a  staff  specially  qualified  for 
their  specific  duties,  and  that  will  render  the  greatest 
possible  amount  of  service  to  their  country.'' 

In  response  to  another  request  his  reply  was: 
"'  Your  letter,  and   also   that  of   my  much-esteemed 

friend,  Hon.  Mr. in  behalf  of  Mr. ,  reached 

me  to-day ;  and  I  hasten  to  reply  that  I  have  no 
place  to  which,  at  present,  I  can  properly  assign  him. 
I  knew  Mr.  personally,  and  was  favorably  im- 
pressed b}^  him.  But  if  a  person  desires  office  in  these 
times,  the  best  thing  for  him  to  do  is  at  once  to  pitch 
into  service  somewhere,  and  work  with  such  energy, 
zeal,  and  success  as  to  impress  those  around  him  with 
the  conviction  that  such  are  his  merits  he  must  be 
advanced,  or  the  interest  of  the  public  service  must 

suffer.      If  Mr. should  mention  the  subject  to 

you  again,  I  think  you  might  not  only  do  him,  but  the 
country,  good  service  by  reading  this  part  of  my  letter 
to  him.  My  desire  is  to  make  merit  the  basis  of  my 
recommendations  and  selections.'' 


IN  WINTER-QUARTERS  AT   WINCHESTER.  209 

He  never  appointed  a  man  to  a  responsible  position 
without  knowing  all  about  him.  He  would  make 
the  most  minute  inquiries.  Was  he  intelligent  i  Was 
he  faithful?  Was  he  industrious?  Did  he  get  up 
early?  This  Avas  a  great  point  with  him.  K  a  man 
was  wanting  in  any  of  these  qualifications,  he  would 
reject  him,  liowever  highly  recommended.  No  feeling 
of  personal  partiality,  no  feeling  of  friendship,  was 
allowed  to  interfere  with  his  duty.  He  felt  that  the 
interests  at  stake  were  too  great  to  be  sacrificed  to 
favoritism  or  friendship. 

To  his  wife  he  writes  from  Winchester,  November 
16th: 

"  Don't  you  tremble  when  you  see  that  you  have 
to  read  such  a  long  letter,  for  Tni  going  to  write 
it  just  as  full  as  it  can  hold.  And  you  wish  that  I 
could  have  my  headquarters  at  Mr.  Grigsby's  ?  I  tell 
you  this  is  a  much  better  place  for  my  pet.  You  can 
have  plenty  of  society  of  charming  ladies  here,  and 
tlie  Eev.  Mr.  Graham,  our  Presbyterian  minister,  lives 
in  the  second  house  from  here,  his  door  being  only 
about  thirty  yards  from  our  gate.  This  house  be- 
longs to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Moore^  of  the  Fourth 
Virginia  Volunteers,  and  has  a  large  yard  around  it. 
The  situation  is  beautiful.  The  building  is  of  cottage 
style  and  contains  six  rooms.  I  have  two  rooms,  one 
above  the  other.  My  lower  room,  or  office,  has  a 
matting  on  the  floor,  a  large  fine  table,  six  chairs,  and 
a  piano.  The  walls  are  papered  Avith  elegant  gilt 
paper.  I  don't  remember  to  have  ever  seen  more 
beautiful  papering,  and  there  are  five  paintings  hang- 
ing on  the  walls.  H  I  only  had  my  little  woman 
14 


21U      I^ll*'^  ^^'   GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

here,  the  room  would  be  set  off.  The  ii|)i)er  room  is 
neat,  but  not  a  full  story,  antl  is,  I  may  say,  only  re- 
markable for  being  heated  in  a  peculiar  manner,  by 
a  flue  from  the  office  below.  Through  the  blessing  of 
our  ever-kind  Heavenly  Father,  I  am  quite  comfort- 
able. I  have  much  work  to  perform,  and  Avoukhrt 
have  much  time  to  talk  to  my  darling  except  at  night ; 
but  then  there  is  so  much  pleasant  society  among 
the  ladies  here  that  you  could  pass  your  time  very 
agreeably.  I  hope  to  send  for  you  just  as  soon  as  I 
can  do  so.  with  the  assurance  that  1  am  in  winter- 
(juarters." 

It  can  readily  be  imagined  with  what  delight 
General  Jackson's  domestic  plans  for  the  winter  were 
hailed  by  me,  and  without  waiting  for  the  promised 
"  aide ''  to  be  sent  on  as  my  escort,  I  joined  some 
friends  who  w^ere  going  to  Eichmond,  where  I  spent 
a  few  days  to  shop,  procure  a  passport,  and  to  await 
an  escort  to  Winchester.  The  latter  was  soon  found 
in  a  kind-hearted  but  absent-minded  old  clergyman, 
who  occupied  himself  so  assiduously  in  taking  care  of 
the  little  Avoman  he  had  in  charge  that  he  entirely 
forgot  to  look  after  her  baggage  (a  very  necessary 
precaution  in  the  upturned  and  disjointed  condition 
in  which  the  country  then  was),  and  the  result  was  a 
lost  trunk!  ^Ye  travelled  l)y  stage-coach  from  Stras- 
burg,  and  were  told,  before  reaching  Winchester,  that 
General  Jackson  was  not  there,  having  gone  with  his 
command  on  an  expedition  to  demolish  Dam  No.  5 
on  the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio  ( ■anal.  It  was  there- 
fore Avith  a  feeling  of  sad  disappointment  and  loneli- 
ness that  T  alighted  from  the  stao-e-coach  in  front  of 


MEETING   AT   LAST.  211 

Taylor's  Hotel  at  midnight  in  the  early  part  of  dreary, 
cold  December,  and  no  husband  to  meet  me  with  a 
glad  welcome.  By  the  dim  lamp-light  I  noticed  a 
small  group  of  soldiers  standing  on  the  sidewalk,  but 
they  remained  as  silent  spectators,  and  my  escort  led 
me  up  the  long  stairway,  doubtless  feeling  disap- 
pointed himself  that  he  still  had  me  on  his  hands. 
Just  before  reachino:  the  landinor  I  turned  to  look 
back,  for  one  figure  among  that  group  looked  start- 
lingly  familiar,  but  as  he  had  not  come  forward,  I 
felt  that  I  must  be  mistaken.  However,  my  back- 
ward glance  did  reveal  an  officer  muffled  up  in  a 
military  overcoat,  and  cap  drawn  dov*m  over  his  eyes, 
following  us  in  rapid  pursuit,  and  by  the  time  we 
were  upon  the  top  step  a  pair  of  strong  arms  caught 
me  in  the  rear ;  the  captive's  head  was  thrown  back, 
and  she  Avas  kissed  again  and  again  by  her  husband, 
before  she  could  realize  the  delightful  surprise  he  had 
given  her.  The  good  old  minister  chuckled  gleefully, 
and  was  no  doubt  a  sincere  sharer  in  the  joy  and 
relief  experienced  by  his  charge.  "When  I  asked  my 
husband  why  he  did  not  come  forward  when  I  got 
out  of  the  coach,  he  said  he  wanted  to  assure  himself 
that  it  was  his  o^vn  wife,  as  he  didn't  want  to  com- 
mit the  blunder  of  kissing  anybody  else's  esposa.  He 
had  returned  but  a  few  hours  before  to  spend  the 
Sabbath  in  Winchester,  and  with  the  hope  of  my 
arrival  upon  the  midnight  stage. 

On  Monday  morning,  bright  and  early,  he  sent  a 
number  of  telegrams  in  search  of  the  missing  trunk, 
which,  by  the  way,  contained  some  valued  treasures, 
and  had  also,  while  in  Richmond,  been  replenished 
Avith  numerous  new  and  pretty  additions  to  its  ward- 


212  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

robe,  just  for  that  winter  in  AVinchester  ;  and  in  those 
war  times  of  blockade  and  scarcity,  such  things  were 
doubly  prized.  But  the  telegraj^li  failed  to  bring  any 
tidings  of  the  trunk,  and  forthwith  the  aide  who  was 
to  have  been  my  escort  was  despatclied  to  Eichmond 
in  pursuit  of  it.  In  a  few  days  he  returned  with  the 
discouraging  report  that  he  was  unsuccessful  in  every 
effort  to  trace  the  lost  piece  of  baggage.  So,  giving 
it  up  in  despair,  I  addressed  myself  to  the  task  of 
supplying  the  necessities  of  the  situation.  It  was,  of 
course,  impossible  to  replace  the  beautiful  Richmond 
outfit;  but  notwithstanding  this  great  loss,  my  happi- 
ness was  unalloyed  so  long  as  I  was  privileged  to  be 
with  my  husband  and  the  charming  friends  I  found 
in  "Winchester.  However,  after  the  lapse  of  three 
whole  weeks,  what  was  my  surprise  one  day  to  see 
my  long-lost  trunk  safely  placed  within  my  room,  and 
its  recovery  was  all  the  more  gratifying  because  my 
good  husband,  during  all  those  weeks,  had  not  ceased 
to  continue  the  search  for  it,  and  his  letters  to  officials 
and  friends  had  proved  instrumental  in  finding  the 
trunk  securely  locked  up  in  Richmond  as  lost  bag- 
gage !  It  Avas  speedily  sent  on  by  express,  the  con- 
tents found  to  be  intact,  and  were  all  the  more 
appreciated  on  account  of  the  deprivation  endured  by 
their  temporary  loss. 

My  husband  was  fortunate  enough  to  engage  board 
for  us  both  with  the  Rev.  J.  R.  (rraham,  in  whose 
delightful  Christian  family  we  spent  as  happy  a  win- 
ter as  ever  falls  to  the  lot  of  mortals  on  this  earth. 
Winchester  was  rich  in  happy  homes  and  pleasant 
people,  in  social  refinement  and  elegant  hospitality ; 
and  the  extreme  kindness  and  appreciation  shown  to 


THE   HAPPY   HOMES   OF  WIXCHESTER.  213 

General  Jackson  by  all,  bound  us  both  to  them  so 
closely  and  warmly  that  ever  after  that  winter  he 
called  the  place  our  "  war  home." 

Among  the  many  excellent  matrons  there  were 
two  who  specially  won  our  hearts — Mrs.  Kobert  Y. 
Conrad  and  Mrs.  Anne  Tucker  Magill.  These  ladies 
were  conspicuous  for  their  lovely  Christian  characters 
— being  foremost  in  all  good  works,  in  tlie  hospitals 
ministering  to  the  soldiers — and  wherever  they  went 
their  lives  were  devoted  to  the  relief  of  suffering  and 
to  doing  good.  Both  were  descended  from  old  Vir- 
ginia families,  true  specimens  of  patrician  blood. 
Mrs.  Conrad,  even  in  the  decline  of  life,  retained 
much  beauty,  of  brunette  style,  and  in  manner  was 
a  most  gentle  and  gracious  lady.  Several  of  her 
sons  were  gallant  soldiers  in  the  army,  and  her  two 
young  daughters  inherited  their  mother's  grace  and 
beauty. 

Mrs.  Magill  was  of  the  house  of  John  Randolpli,  of 
Roanoke,  and  a  sister  of  Hon.  John  Randolph  Tucker, 
Virginia's  honored  statesman  —  a  man  known  not 
only  in  Virginia,  but  in  all  the  South,  as  in  the  very 
front  rank  of  Congress  and  of  statesmen;  and  in 
social  life  a  man  "  of  infinite  jest,"  but  withal  an 
earnest  Christian.  This  family  seemed  to  possess  as 
an  inheritance  the  richest  vein  of  humor,  in  addition 
to  high  mental  endowments.  It  would  be  difficult 
to  describe  the  sunshine  which  irradiated  the  very 
presence  as  well  as  the  whole  life  of  Mrs.  Magill, 
whom  General  Jackson  designated  as  '*  inimitable." 
I  once  heard  the  face  of  a  woman,  who  united  the 
rarest  beauty  to  the  utmost  sweetness  of  disposition, 
described  as  ''a  love  letter  to  all  the  world."     This 


214  LIFK   OF   GENERAL   THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

would  applv  exactly  to  Mrs.  Magill,  who  was  the  im- 
personation of  love  and  kindness,  and  her  natural 
buoyancy  of  temperament  was  heightened  by  her 
beautiful  Christian  faith  and  trust.  In  her  General 
Jackson  found  a  spirit  congenial  to  his  own,  and  so 
admired  her  bright  and  radiant  disposition  that  he 
often  said  to  his  wife  that  when  she  grew  to  be  an 
old  lady,  lie  hoped  she  Avould  be  ''just  like  Mrs. 
Mairill!"  She  was  the  mother  of  mv  hostess  and 
friend,  Mrs.  Graham,  and  when  I  became  a  member 
of  her  daughter's  family  she  said  she  must  adopt  me 
as  her  daughter  too,  and  during  all  my  sojourn  she 
lavished  upon  me  the  loving  attentions  of  a  mother 
to  a  child.  One  day  in  every  week  our  whole  house- 
hold dined  with  her,  and  I  shall  never  forget  those 
deliirhtful  reunions.  She  was  blest  with  several 
daughters,  whose  cordial  manners  and  sweet  nmsic 
made  their  home  charming  to  visitors. 

I  recall  a  very  amusing  scene  which  occurred  in 
Mr.  Graham's  parlor,  showing  Mrs.  MagilFs  playful 
humor.  A  number  of  visitors,  including  several 
young  officers,  were  spending  the  evening,  and  as 
thev  were  about  breaking  up,  Mrs.  Magill  and  a 
young  captain  of  artillery  began  to  fight  a  most 
ridiculous  battle— the  captain  seizing  a  chair  as  his 
cannon  and  pointing  its  back  at  Mrs.  Magill.  The 
fun  became  contagious,  and  soon  everybody  in  the 
room  took  sides,  drawmg  out  the  chairs  as  pieces  of 
artillery,  amid  such  noise  and  laughter  that  General 
Jackson,  who  was  in  his  room  up-stairs,  came  down 
to  see  what  it  was  all  about.  Taking  in  at  a  glance 
the  broad  humor  of  the  occasion,  he  said,  sharply  : 
'•  Captain  Marye,  when  the  engagement  is  ovei\  you  will 


AN   INTERVAL   OF   REST   AND   PEACE.  215 

send  in  an  official  report."  The  uproar  of  this  niirth- 
provoiving  scene  was  heard  far  out  into  the  street,  and 
AYOuld  not  have  been  suspected  as  coming  from  a 
preacher's  house,  and  yet,  if  I  mistake  not,  his  rever- 
ence was  one  of  the  most  furious  combatants  on  th(.' 
side  of  his  mother-in-law  I 

The  Winchester  ladies  were  among  the  most  famous 
of  Virginia  housekeepers,  and  lived  in  a  great  deal  of 
old-fashioned  elegance  and  profusion.  The  old  border 
town  had  not  then  chano-ed  hands  with  the  confiictino- 
armies,  as  it  was  destined  to  do  so  many  times  during 
the  war.  Under  the  rose -colored  light  in  which  I 
viewed  everything  that  winter,  it  seemed  to  me  that 
no  people  could  have  been  more  cultivated,  attractive, 
and  noble -hearted.  The  memories  of  that  sojourn 
in  our  "  war  liome ''  are  among  the  most  precious  and 
sacred  of  my  whole  life.  It  Avas  there  that  I  was 
permitted  to  be  the  longest  time  Avitli  my  husband 
after  he  entered  the  army.  He  Avas  in  such  fine  health 
and  spirits  that,  Avith  the  exception  of  the  Eomney 
expedition,  there  Avas  nothing  to  mar  the  perfect 
enjoyment  of  those  three  blessed  months. 

Xo  sooner  had  General  Jackson,  Avith  his  gallant 
Stonewall  Brigade,  taken  up  his  headquarters  at 
Winchester,  than  petitions  came  pouring  in  from  the 
loyal  people  along  the  border  counties  of  Virginia, 
praying  for  protection,  and  this  he  promised  them  so 
soon  as  he  could  get  more  reinforcements.  In  the 
small  body  of  caA^alry  Avhich  he  found  at  Winchester, 
a  conspicuous  officer  AA'as  Lieutenant-Colonel  Turner 
Ashby,  Avhom  General  Jackson  placed  in  command  of 
his  cavalry  after  consolidating  all  the  companies  into 
a  regiment.      At  the  beginning  of  the  war  this  young 


216     LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

soldier  raised  a  company  of  volunteers,  and  during 
the  summer  cam})aign  he  had  been  engaged  in  the 
first  capture  of  Harper's  Ferry,  and  distinguished 
himself  by  his  gallantry  and  courage.  He  was  as 
brave  and  chivalrous  a  gentleman  as  ever  drew  sword, 
and  when  he  received  his  trust  from  General  Jack- 
son he  kept  it  with  unwearied  zeal  until  he  fell  in 
the  cause  to  which  he  had  given  his  life.  His 
brother.  Captain  Eichard  Ashby,  whom  he  had  loved 
with  unusual  tenderness  and  devotion,  and  who  was  his 
equal  in  courage  and  heroism,  had  fallen  by  the  hand 
of  the  foe,  and  this  terrible  stroke  inspired  Turner 
Ashby  with  a  fearful  resolution  to  avenge  his  broth- 
er's death.  With  his  sad,  earnest  gray  eyes,  jet- 
black  hair  and  flowing  beard,  his  lithe  and  graceful 
form  mounted  upon  a  superb  steed,  he  was  a  typical 
knight  of  the  Golden  Horseshoe,  and  his  daring  and 
intrepid  exploits  soon  shed  a  halo  of  romance  around 
liis  name,  and  made  it  one  of  terror  to  his  enemies. 
The  sound  of  his  well-known  yell  and  the  shout  of 
'•  Ashby !"  from  his  men  were  the  signal  for  a  tre- 
mendous charge  that  was  generally  victorious.  He 
was  an  invaluable  auxiliaiy  to  General  Jackson  in 
guarding  the  outposts  of  the  army — his  coolness,  dis- 
cretion, and  untiring  vigilance  being  as  remarkable 
as  his  daring  and  bravery. 

Before  proceeding  further  with  an  account  of  Gen- 
eral Jackson's  movements,  a  ])rief  glance  will  be  given 
at  the  situation  in  Northwestern  Virginia.  The  cam- 
paigns of  the  Confederates  in  that  region  had  been  at- 
tended with  disaster  almost  f  j'om  the  beginning,  which 
had  been  a  source  of  great  grief  to  General  Jackson ; 
and  his  anxietv  to  be  sent  as  a  defender  to  the  loved 


SITUATION   IX  NORTHERN   VIRGINIA.  217 

''  home  of  his  boyhood  and  family  "  has  ah-eady  been 
shown  in  his  letters.  General  McClellan,  crossing  the 
Ohio,  had  attacked  a  small  force  under  General  Eob- 
ert  S.  Garnett,  who  was  killed  in  one  of  the  first  en- 
gagements of  the  war.  After  his  death  and  the  de- 
feat of  his  troops,  the  Confederate  government  sent 
out  a  larger  force,  under  General  Eobert  E.  Lee,  to 
oppose  Kosecrans,  who  had  succeeded  McClellan.  The 
high  reputation  of  General  Lee  raised  great  hopes  of 
success ;  but  owing  to  the  nature  of  the  country,  the 
mountains,  the  condition  of  the  roads,  and  the  superior 
numbers  of  the  enemy,  these  hopes  Avere  doomed  to 
disappointment. 

After  this  second  failure  of  the  campaign  even  in 
hands  so  competent  as  General  Lee's,  that  distin- 
guished officer  Avas  assigned  to  a  more  important 
command,  and  was  succeeded  in  the  Northwestern 
Department  by  Brigadier-General  Loring.  Brigadier- 
General  Henry  R.  Jackson  and  Colonel  Edward  John- 
son, of  this  command,  had  each  gallantly  repulsed  the 
enemy ;  but  their  successes  proved  to  be  fruitless  on 
account  of  their  forces  being  too  small  to  hold  any 
ground  the}^  had  gained ;  and  the  enemy  having  occu- 
pied the  counties  of  Hardy  and  Hampshire,  thereby 
threatening  the  rear  of  the  Confederates,  they  were 
finally  forced  to  retreat  to  a  position  on  the  Shenan- 
doah Mountain,  forty  miles  to  the  rear. 

Such  was  the  situation  in  the  Northwest  when  Gen- 
eral Jackson  arrived  at  Winchester.  And  so  anxious 
was  he  to  engage  in  the  work  of  protecting  his  native 
region  that  he  urged  the  government  to  let  him  have 
the  troops  under  Generals  Loring  and  Johnson,  and,  if 
his  request  were  granted,  that  there  should  be  no  delay 


218  LIFE   OF   (iEXERAL    THOMAS   J.  JACKSON. 

in  hurrying  them  at  once  to  him  ;  and  with  these  rein- 
forcements he  proposed  to  undertake  a  vrinter  cam- 
paign, lie  remembered  the  saying  of  Xapoleun,  that 
"an  active  Avinter's  can'ipaign  is  less  hable  to  produce 
(hsease  than  a  sedentary  hfe  by  camp-tires  in  winter- 
quarters" — and  seeing  the  imminent  dangers  that 
were  threatening  the  country  from  dela}",  together 
with  the  immense  resources  of  the  Northern  Army, 
he  was  ■  eager  to  do  all  in  his  power,  feeling  that 
the  issues  involved  jiistihed  him  in  making  the  ex- 
periment. The  government  ])artly  acceded  to  his 
request,  but  did  not  furnisli  him  with  all  the  troops 
he  desired,  and  so  restricted  hihi,  buth  in  force  and 
authority,  that  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  accom- 
plish all  that  he  hoped  and  expected.  A  letter  to 
the  War  Department  will  show  how  much  he  had 
reflected  upon  this  subject,  and  what  bold  plans  he 
had  formed: 

'•Headquarters,  Valley  District,  Nov.  20tli,  18G1. 

''  llox.  J.  P.  Eexjamix,  Secretary  of  AVar : 

''  Sir, — I  hope  you  will  pardon  me  for  requesting 
that  at  once  all  the  troops  under  General  Loring  be 
ordered  to  this  point  (Winchester).  Deeply  impressed 
with  the  importance  of  absolute  secrecy  respecting 
military  operations,  I  have  made  it  a  point  to  say  but 
little  respecting  my  proposed  movements  in  the  event 
of  sufficient  reinforcements  arriving;  but  since  con- 
versing witli  Lieutenant -Colonel  J.  T.  L.  Preston, 
upon  his  return  from  (leneral  Loring,  and  ascertain- 
ing the  disposition  of  the  general's  forces,  I  venture 
to  respectfully  urge  tliat  after  concentrating  all  his 
troops  here,  an    attempt  should  be  made  to  captui-e 


PLAN   OF   A   WINTER  CAMPAIGN.  219 

the   Federal   forces   at    Komney.^-      The    attack   on 
Komney  Avould  probably  induce  McClellan  to  believe 
that  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  had  been  so  weakened 
as  to  justify  him  in  making  an  advance  on  Centre- 
ville;  but  should  this  not  induce  him  to  advance,  I 
do    not    believe    anything    will    during    the   present 
winter.     Should  the   Army   of  the   Potomac  be   at- 
tacked, I  would  be  at  once  prepared  to  reinforce  it 
with  my  present  volunteer  force,  increased  by  General 
Lorings.     After  repulsing  the   enemy  at  Manassas, 
let  the  troops   that   marched  on  Komney  return  to 
the  Yalley  and  move  rapidly  westward  to  the  waters 
of  the  Monongahela  and  Little   Kanawha.     Should 
General  Kelly  be  defeated,  and  especially  should  he 
be  captured,  I  believe  that  by  a  judicious  disposition 
of  the  militia,  a  few  cavalry,  and  a  small  number  of 
field -pieces,  no  additional  forces  would  be  recpiired 
for  some  time  in  this  district.     I  deem  it  of  great  im- 
portance that  Northwestern  Virginia  be  occupied  by 
Confederate  troops  this  winter.     At  present  it  is  to 
be  presumed  that  the  enemy  are  not  expecting  an 
attack  there,  and  the  resources  of  that  region  neces- 
sary for  the  subsistence  of  our  troops  are  in  greater 
abundance  than  in  almost  any  other  season  of  the 
year.     Postpone  the  occupation  of  that  section  until 
spring,  and  w^e  may  expect  to  find  the  enemy  pre- 
pared for  us,   and   the  resources   to  which   I   have 
referred  greatly   exhausted.      I   know   that   what   I 
have  proposed  will  be  an  arduous  undertaking,  and 
cannot  be  accomplished  w^ithout  the  sacrifice  of  much 
personal  comfort ;  but  I  feel  that  tlie  troops  will  be 

*  General  Kelly  was  then  at  Romney  with  a  force  reputed  to 
be  five  thousand  men,  to  cover  repairs  on  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  Railroad. 


220  LIl'E   OF   GENERAL   THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

prepared  to  make  this  sacrifice  when  animated  by 
the  prospect  of  important  results  to  our  cause  and 
distinction  to  themselves.  It  may  be  urged  airainst 
this  plan  that  the  enemy  will  advance  on  Staunton 
and  Iluntersville.  I  am  well  satisiied  that  such  a  step 
would  but  make  their  own  destruction  more  certain. 
Again,  it  may  be  said  that  General  Floyd  will  be  cut 
off.  To  avoid  this,  if  necessary,  the  general  has  only 
to  fall  back  towards  the  Virginia  and  Tennessee  Kail- 
road.  When  Northwestern  Virginia  is  occupied  in 
force,  the  Kanawha  Valley,  unless  it  be  the  lower 
part  of  it,  must  be  evacuated  by  the  Federal  forces, 
or  otherwise  their  safety  Avill  be  endangered  by  forc- 
ing a  column  across  the  Little  Kanawha,  between 
them  and  the  Ohio  Kiver.  Admittins:  that  the  season 
is  too  far  advanced,  or  that  from  other  causes  all 
cannot  be  accomplished  that  has  been  named,  yet 
through  the  blessing  of  God,  who  has  thus  far  so 
wonderfully  prospered  our  cause,  much  more  may  be 
expected  from  General  Loring's  troops  according  to 
this  programme  than  can  be  expected  from  them 
where  they  are.  If  you  decide  to  order  them  here,  I 
trust  that,  for  the  purpose  of  saving  time,  all  the 
infantry,  cavalry,  and  artillery  will  be  directed  to 
move  immediately  upon  the  reception  of  the  order. 
The  enemy,  about  five  thousand  strong,  have  been  for 
some  time  slightly  fortifying  at  Romney,  and  have 
completed  their  telegraph  from  that  place  to  Green 
Spring  Depot.  Their  forces  at  and  near  Williams- 
port  are  estimated  as  high  as  five  thousand,  but  as 
yet  I  liave  no  reliable  information  oi'  their  strength 
beyond  the  Potomac. 

"  Your  most  obedient  servant, 

"T.  J.  Jackson,  ^Majoi'-Gencral.  P.  A.  C.  S.'' 


GENERAL   LEE   DOUBTS  THE   WISDOM   OF  IT.         221 

General  Johnston  endorsed  this  letter  as  follows : 

"  Centreville,  Nov.  21st. 
"  Kespectf ully  forwarded.    I  submit  that  the  troops 
under  General  Loring  might  render  valuable  services 
by  taking  the  field  with  General  Jackson,  instead  of 
going  into  winter-quarters,  as  now  proposed. 

"  J.  E.  Johnston,  General." 

The  Secretary  of  AVar,  in  sending  General  Jackson's 
letter  to  General  Loring,  and  expressing  concurrence 
in  the  opinion  that  it  would  be  the  destruction  of  the 
enemy  for  him  to  advance  at  that  season  upon  Mon- 
terey and  Staunton,  said : 

"  In  opposition  to  all  this,  we  have  the  views  of 
General  Lee  and  yourself  impliedly  given  in  the 
recommendation  to  guard  the  passes  through  the 
winter.  AYe  do  not  desire,  under  such  a  state  of 
things,  to  direct  the  movement  above  described,  with- 
out feaving  you  a  discretion,  and  the  President  wishes 
you  to  exercise  that  discretion.  If  upon  full  con- 
sideration you  think  the  proposed  movement  objec- 
tionable and  too  hazardous,  you  will  decline  to  make 
it,  and  so  inform  the  department.  If,  on  the  contrary, 
you  approve  it,  then  proceed  to  execute  it  as  promptly 
and  secretly  as  possible,  disguising  your  purpose  as 
well  as  you  can,  and  forwarding  to  me  by  express  an 
explanation  of  your  proposed  action  to  be  communi- 
cated to  General  Jackson." 

In  the  meantime,  while  awaiting  the  result  of  this 
decision,  General  Jackson  determined  not  to  remain 


222      LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

inactive,  and  taking  the  small  force  then  under  his 
command,  early  in  December,  he  went  to  work  to 
destroy  Dam  No.  5  on  the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio 
Canal,  which  ran  down  the  Potomac  from  Cumber- 
land, Maryhmd,  to  AVashington.  This  canal  was  of 
great  importance  to  the  enemy  in  affording  them  the 
means  of  transporting  their  supplies  and  troops, 
especially  since  the  railroad  bridge  at  Harpers  Ferry 
had  been  burned.  As  General  Banks,  with  a  large 
force,  Avas  upon  the  other  side  of  the  Potomac, 
General  Jackson  despatched  his  militia  to  make  a 
feint  upon  Williamsport,  while  he,  with  the  rest  of 
his  troops,  repaired  to  the  dam,  the  destruction  of 
which  was  accomplished,  but  at  the  expense  of  great 
personal  discomfort  and  suffering  to  his  men.  How- 
ever, they  proved  themselves  true  soldiers — many  of 
them  volunteering  to  enter  the  chill  waters  of  the 
Potomac,  and  working  like  beavers  for  four  cold  winter 
days  and  still  colder  nights,  Avaist-deep  in  water,  with 
the  Federal  cannon-balls  booming  over  their  heads ; 
but  only  one  poor  fellow  lost  his  life  from  the  guns 
of  the  enemy.  Captain  Ilolliday  (afterwards  an  hon- 
ored Governor  of  Virginia),  of  the  Thirty-third  Eegi- 
ment,  and  Captain  Eobinson,  of  the  Twenty-seventh 
(all  Virginia  troops),  volunteered,  with  the  companies, 
to  f^o  into  the  river  and  cut  out  the  cribs.  This  was 
done  under  fire  from  the  Maryland  bank. 

General  Loring  decided  to  join  General  Jackson, 
and  with  his  troops,  numbering  about  six  thousand 
men,  arrived  in  Winchester  the  latter  part  of  December. 
The  government  did  not  send  Colonel  Edward  John- 
son's troops  also,  as  Jackson  had  rcnpiested,  and  directed 
Loring  to  retain  command  of  his  own  forces,  but  to  act 


NEW   YEAR'S   DAY,  1862.  223 

under  orders  from  Jackson.  The  enemy  having  pos- 
session of  the  towns  of  Bath,  Hancock,  and  Romney, 
which  gave  them  control  of  the  fertile  valley  of  the 
south  branch  of  the  Potomac,  Jackson's  plan  was  to 
move  swiftly  upon  the  first  two  named  vilhiges,  and 
then  to  attack  Romney,  which  was  their  strongest 
point. 

The  morning  of  IS'ew  Year's  Day  of  1862  dawned 
upon  Winchester  with  all  the  glory  and  mildness  of  a 
spring  day,  and,  the  roads  being  in  good  condition. 
General  Jackson  started  out  with  his  little  army  of 
about  eight  thousand  five  hundred  men,  five  battal- 
ions, and  a  few  companies  of  cavalry,  all  moving  for- 
ward with  alacrity  and  fine  spirits.  Bat  the  weather, 
which  on  the  first  day  had  been  so  propitious,  on  the 
second  "  suddenly  changed  to  be  very  severe,  and  the 
snow  and  sleet  made  the  roads  almost  impassable  for 
loaded  wagons,  unless  the  teams  were  specialh^  shod 
for  the  purpose."  The  sufferings  of  the  troops  were 
terrible,  as  the  frozen  state  of  the  roads  rendered  it 
impossible  for  the  wagons  to  come  up  in  time,  and 
for  several  nights  the  soldiers  bivouacked  under  the 
cold  Avinter  sky  without  tents  or  blankets.  All  these 
hardships  and  privations  Jackson  shared  with  the 
troops,  and  tried  to  encourage  them  in  patient  en- 
durance, and  inspire  them  to  press  on.  His  own 
command  bore  up  with  great  fortitude  and  without 
murmuring,  but  the  adverse  weather  had  tlie  effect 
of  greatly  intensifying  the  discontent  and  disgust  of 
Loring  and  his  men,  who  had  from  the  first  been  dis- 
inclined to  a  A\  inter  campaign  ;  and  an  unfortunate 
jealousy  springing  up  between  the  two  commands, 
caused  an  immense  amount  of  trouble  and  disappoint- 


224:     LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

ment  to  Jackson,  and  frustrated  much  of  the  success 
for  Avhicli  he  had  reason  to  hope.  Many  of  the 
malcontents  left  their  posts  on  the  plea  of  sickness 
and  returned  to  AYinchester,  and  taunted  ''Jackson's 
pet  lambs."  as  they  called  the  Stonewall  Brigade,  for 
their  foolhardiness  in  following  a  leader  Avhoni  they 
did  not  hesitate  to  denounce  as  rash  and  severe,  in 
drao-crino-  men  throuo-h  a  Avinter  cam]>aii>:n  in  such 
arctic  weather.  Nevertheless,  this  much-abused  man 
and  his  brave  followers  pressed  on,  and  at  the  end 
of  a  three  days'  hard  march  they  reached  Bath,  but 
found  the  enemy  had  fled  without  stopping  to  make 
any  resistance,  leaving  behind  them  all  their  stores 
and  provisions.  The  Confederates  pursued  the  fugi- 
tives, and  soon  overtook  them  near  Hancock,  and 
drove  them  into  that  village.  Colonel  Ash  by  was 
sent  on  the  morning  of  the  5th  to  summon  the  i:>lace 
to  surrender,  and  was  led  blindfold  through  the  streets 
into  the  presence  of  the  Federal  commander.  His 
name  had  so  often  caused  dismay  and  confusion 
among  their  troops  that  their  curiosity  was  greatly 
aroused  at  a  sight  of  the  dashing  young  cavalryman, 
and  as  they  thronged  around  him  he  heard  whispers 
of  '•  That  is  the  famous  Asliby."  The  Federal  com- 
mander refused  to  surrender,  Avhereupon  General 
Jackson  cannonaded  the  town,  and  speedily  drove  the 
Federal  forces  out  of  it.  It  was  his  design  to  cross 
the  Potomac  and  enter  Hancock,  but  he  says  in  his  re- 
port :  ''  On  the  6th  the  enemy  were  reinforced  to  such 
an  extent  as  to  induce  me  to  believe  that  my  object 
could  not  be  accomplished  without  a  sacrifice  of  life, 
which  I  felt  unwilling  to  make,  as  Itomney,  the  great 
object  of  the  expedition,  might  require  for  its  recovery. 


MOVING   OX   ROMNEY.  225 

and  especially  for  the  capture  of  the  troops  in  and  near 
there,  all  the  force  at  my  disposal.  ...  As  the  United 
States  troops  had  repeatedly  shelled  Shepherdstown, 
and  had  even  done  so  while  there  were  no  troops  in 
the  place,  and  it  was  not  used  as  a  means  of  defence, 
I  determined  to  intimate  to  the  enemy  that  such  out- 
rages must  not  be  repeated,  and  directed  a  few  rounds 
from  McLaughlin's  battery  to  be  fired  at  Hancock. 
The  invader  having  been  defeated  and  driven  across 
the  Potomac,  the  telegraph  line  broken  at  several 
points,  and  the  railroad  bridge  across  Great  Cacapon 
destroyed,  thus  throwing  material  obstacles  in  the 
way,  not  only  in  transmitting  intelligence  from  Rom- 
ney  to  Hancock,  but  also  of  receiving  reinforcements 
from  the  east,  arrangements  were  made  for  moving  on 
Romney. 

"  The  next  day,  the  7th,  the  command  was  put  in 
motion.  .  .  .  Before  night  a  despatch  reached  me  giv- 
ing inteUigence  of  our  disaster  that  morning  at  Hang- 
ing Rock,  where  the  enemy  not  only  defeated  our 
militia  under  Colonel  Monroe,  but  captured  two  guns. 
.  .  .  The  enemy  evacuated  Romney  on  the  10th,  and 
the  town  was  soon  occupied  by  Sheetz's  and  Shand's 
companies  of  cavalry,  which  were  subsequently  fol- 
lowed by  other  troops.  The  Federal  forces,  abandon- 
ing a  large  number  of  tents  and  other  public  property, 
which  fell  into  our  possession,  retreated  to  a  point 
between  the  railroad  bridge  across  Patterson's  Creek 
and  the  northwestern  branch  of  the  Potomac,  which 
was  as  far  as  they  could  retire  without  endangering 
the  safety  of  the  two  bridges.  Our  loss  in  the  ex- 
pedition in  killed  was  four  ;  in  wounded,  twenty-eight. 
The  Federal  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  not  ascer- 
15 


226  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 

tained.  Sixteen  of  tliem  were  captured.  After  the 
arrival  in  Romney  of  General  Loring's  leading  bri- 
gade, under  Colonel  Taliaferro,  I  designed  moving 
with  it,  Garnett's  brigade,  and  other  forces  on  an  im- 
portant expedition  against  the  enemy,  but  such  Avas 
the  extent  of  demoralization  in  the  lirst-named  bri- 
gade as  to  render  the  abandonment  of  that  enterprise 
necessary.  Believing  it  imprudent  to  attempt  further 
movements  with  Loring's  command  against  the  Fed- 
erals, I  determined  to  put  it  in  winter-quarters  in  the 
vicinity  of  Romney." 

On  hearing  of  the  approach  of  Jackson,  even  when 
they  were  over  a  day's  march  distant,  the  Federals, 
though  superior  in  numbers,  tied  from  Romney  in  such 
haste  that  they  left  their  tents  standing,  and  much  of 
their  equipage  behind  them.  In  their  track  of  retreat 
they  left  ruin  and  desolation  everywhere.  The  dwell- 
ings of  the  rich  and  poor  alike,  the  factories,  mills, 
and  churches  were  burned  or  wantonly  desecrated  ; 
widows  and  orphans  driven  from  their  homes,  and  the 
torch  applied  to  them  ;  and  even  the  domestic  ani- 
mals— everything  that  could  be  useful  to  man — were 
either  taken  away  or  shot  down.  For  fifteen  miles  it 
was  one  continuous  scene  of  smoking  ruins  and  dev- 
astation. In  his  official  report  General  Jackson  thus 
alludes  to  these  atrocities  : 

"  I  do  not  feel  at  liljerty  to  close  this  report  Avith- 
out  alluding  to  the  conduct  of  the  reprobate  Federal 
commanders,  who,  in  Hampshire  County,  have  not 
only  burned  valuable  mill  jU'operty,  but  also  many 
private  houses.     The  track  from  Romney  to  Hanging 


FRUITS   OF    THE   EXPEDITION.  227 

Rock,  a  distance  of  fifteen  miles,  was  one  of  desola- 
tion. The  number  of  dead  animals  h'ing  along  the 
roadside,  where  they  had  been  shot  by  the  enemy,  exem- 
plified the  spirit  of  that  part  of  the  Northern  army." 

General  Jackson's  estimate  of  the  value  of  the 
fruits  of  this  expedition  will  be  shown  by  a  quota- 
tion from  his  report : 

"  On  eTanuary  2d  there  was  not,  from  the  informa- 
tion I  could  gather,  a  single  loyal  man  in  Morgan 
County  who  could  remain  at  home  with  safety. 
Within  less  than  four  days  the  enemy  had  been  de- 
feated, their  baggage  captured ;  and  by  teaching  the 
Federal  authorities  a  lesson,  that  a  town  claiming 
allegiance  to  the  United  States  lay  under  our  guns ; 
Shepherdstown  protected,  which  had  repeatedly  be- 
fore, though  not  since,  been  shelled  ;  the  railroad  com- 
munication with  Hancock  broken  ;  all  that  portion  of 
the  county  east  of  the  Great  Cacapon  recovered ; 
Eomney  and  a  large  part  of  Hampshire  County  evac- 
uated by  the  enemy  without  the  firing  of  a  gun ;  the 
enemy  had  fled  from  the  western  part  of  Hardy,  had 
been  forced  from  the  offensive  to  the  defensive — 
under  these  circumstances,  judge  what  must  have 
been  my  astonishment  at  receiving  from  the  Secre- 
tary of  War  the  following  despatch :  '  Our  news  in- 
dicates that  a  movement  is  being  made  to  cut  off 
General  Loring's  command.  Order  him  back  to 
Winchester  immediately.' " 

From  the  report  of  General  Loring  and  his  com- 
mand, it  seems  that  the  military  circles  of  the  Con- 
federacv  at  Eichmond  had  been  made  to  believe  that 


228  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 

they  were  tlie  victims  of  a  crazy  leader,  whose  mad 
career  must  he  stopped  at  once  for  the  safety  of  Lor- 
ing  and  his  men,  if  not  for  the  country.  General 
Jackson,  Avith  the  Stonewall  Brigade,  had  returned  to 
'Winchester,  leaving  Loring's  force,  which  Avas  the 
larger  part  of  his  command,  in  winter-quarters  near 
Romney,  with  the  confident  expectation  that,  since  he 
had  cleared  out  all  that  region  of  the  enemy,  Loring 
would  be  safe,  and  able  to  defend  himself  against  any 
future  attack,  and,  besides,  he  was  near  enouHi  to  o-o  to 
him  in  case  of  danger.  It  can  readily  be  seen,  there- 
fore, how  inex})licable  to  him  seemed  this  order  from 
tlie  AVar  Department.     In  his  report  he  continues : 

'•  I  promptly  complied  with  the  order,  but  in  do- 
ing so  forwarded  to  the  Secretary  of  War  my  con- 
ditional resignation.  Up  to  that  time,  God,  who  has 
so  wonderfully  blessed  us  during  the  war,  had  given 
great  success  to  the  efforts  for  ^irotecting  loyal  citizens 
in  their  rights,  and  in  recovering  and  holding  territory 
in  this  district  which  had  been  overrun  by  the  enemy. 
It  is  true  that  our  success  caused  much  exposure  and 
suffering  to  the  command.  Several  nights  the  troops 
had  to  bivouac,  notwithstanding  the  inclemency  of  the 
weather,  their  tents  not  coming  up  on  account  of  the 
bad  condition  of  the  roads ;  yet  every  command,  except 
part  of  General  Loring's,  bore  up  under  these  hardshi])s 
with  the  fortitude  becoming  patriotic  soldiers. 

.  .  .  '*  General  Loring's  evacuation  of  Eomney  and 
return  to  the  vicinitv  of  Winchester  was  the  beo'innimi: 
of  disasters.  The  enemy,  who  up  to  that  time  had  been 
acting  on  the  defensive,  suddenly  changed  to  the  offen- 
sive and  advanced  on  Eomney  ;  next,  drove  our  troops 


JACKSON"  RESIGNS  HIS  COMMAND.  229 

out  of  Moorefield  on  the  12th  of  this  month  [Febru- 
ary] ;  two  days  after  forced  our  mihtia  from  Bloomery 
Pass,  thus  coming  to  within  twenty-one  miles  of  Win- 
chester, and  capturino-  a  number  of  prisoners." 

Perhaps  the  honorable  Secretary  of  War  was,  in 
his  turn,  somewhat  surprised  at  receiving  the  follow- 
ing reply  to  his  peremptory  order  to  General  Jackson : 

"  Headquarters,  Valley  District,  Jan.  31st,  18G2. 
''  Hon.  J.  P.  Bexjamin  : 

''  Sir, — Your  order  requiring  me  to  direct  General 
Loring  to  return  with  his  command  to  Winchester 
has  been  received  and  promptly  complied  with.  With 
such  interference  in  my  command,  I  cannot  expect  to 
be  of  much  service  in  the  field,  and  I  accordingly  re- 
spectfully request  to  be  ordered  to  report  for  duty  to 
the  Superintendent  of  the  Virginia  Military  Institute 
at  Lexington,  as  has  been  done  in  the  case  of  other 
professors.  Should  this  application  not  be  granted,  I 
respectfully  request  that  the  President  will  accept  my 
resignation  from  the  army. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

"  T.  J.  Jackson, 
"  Major-General,  P.  A.  C.  S." 

This  letter  was,  of  course,  submitted  to  General 
Johnston,  the  chief  commander  of  the  department, 
who,  in  forwarding  it,  wrote  upon  it  this  endorsement : 

''  Headquarters,  Cextreyille,  Feb.  7tb,  1862. 
"  Eespectfully  forwarded  with  great  regret.     I  don't 
know  how  the  loss  of  this  officer  can  be  supplied. 
General  officers  are  much  wanted  in  this  department. 

''  J.  E.  Johnston,  General." 


230      LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

General  Jolinston  iilso  wrote  the  following  letter  to 
General  Jackson  : 

"  FebrufiiT  3d. 

"  Major-General  Jackson  : 

''  My  dear  Friend, — I  have  just  read,  and  with  pro- 
found regret,  your  letter  of  January  31st  to  the  Secre- 
tary of  War  asking  to  be  relieved  from  your  present 
command,  either  by  an  order  to  the  Virginia  Military 
Institute  or  the  acceptance  of  your  resignation.  Let 
me  beg  you  to  reconsider  this  matter.  Under  ordi- 
nary circumstances,  a  due  sense  of  one's  own  dignity, 
as  well  as  care  for  professional  character  and  official 
rights,  would  demand  such  a  course  as  yours ;  but  the 
character  of  this  war,  the  great  energy  exhibited  by 
the  government  of  the  United  States,  the  danger  in 
which  our  very  existence  as  an  independent  people 
lies,  require  sacrifices  from  us  all  who  have  been  edu- 
cated as  soldiers.  I  receive  my  information  of  the 
order  of  which  you  have  such  cause  to  complain  from 
your  letter.  Is  not  that  as  great  an  official  wrong  to 
me  as  the  order  itself  is  to  you?  Let  us  dispassion- 
ately reason  with  the  government  on  this  subject  of 
command,  and  if  we  fail  to  influence  its  practice,  then 
ask  to  be  relieved  from  positions  the  authority  of 
which  is  exercised  b}^  the  War  Department  while  the 
responsibilities  are  left  to  us.  I  liave  taken  the  liber- 
ty to  detain  your  letter  to  make  this  appeal  to  your 
patriotism,  not  merely  from  warm  feelings  of  personal 
regard,  but  from  the  official  opinion  which  makes  me 
regard  you  as  necessary  to  the  service  of  the  country 
in  your  present  position. 

'^  Very  truly  yours, 

'*  J.  E.  Johnston.'' 


REASONS  FOR  DISSATISFACTION.  231 

General  Jackson  also  addressed  the  following  note 
to  General  Johnston's  adjutant-general : 

"  Headquarters,  Valley  District,  Feb.  1st,  1862. 
''  Major  Thomas  G.  Khett,  Assistant  Adjutant-General : 
"  Major,— The  Secretary  of  War  stated,  in  the  order 
requiring  General  Loring's  command  to  fall  back  to 
this  place  immediately,  that  he  had  been  informed  that 
the  command  was  in  danger  of  being  cut  off.  Such 
danger,  I  am  well  satisfied,  does  not  exist,  nor  did  it, 
in  my  opinion,  exist  at  the  time  the  order  Avas  given, 
and  I  therefore  respectfully  recommend  that  the  order 
be  countermanded,  and  that  General  Loring  be  re- 
quired to  return  with  his  command  to  the  vicinity  of 
Komney. 

"  Eespect fully, 

"  T.  J.  Jackson, 
"  Major-General,  P.  A.  C.  S.,  commanding." 

"  Endorsement : 

"  Centreville,  Feb.  6tb,  1862. 

"  Kespectfully  referred  to  the  Secretary  of  War, 
whose  orders  I  cannot  countermand. 

"  J.  E.  Johnston,  General." 

In  his  late  expedition.  General  Jackson  had  received 
but  little  aid  from  the  government.  The  disaffection 
of  General  Loring  and  his  men  had  been  enough  to  dis- 
courage and  seriously  affect  the  success  of  the  enter- 
prise. Jackson  had  endured  with  his  command  all  the 
rigors  and  hardships  of  an  exceptionally  severe  winter. 
And  yet,  in  the  face  of  all  these  obstacles,  he  had  with 
his  heroic  little  band  succeeded  in  driving  the  enemy 


232  LIl-^E    OF   GENERAL   THOMAS   J.  JACKSON. 

from  every  point  he  liacl  attacked,  and  had  recovered 
his  entire  district.  AVhen  it  was  urged  upon  him  that 
he  should  be  wiUing  to  make  sacrifices  to  serve  his 
country  in  her  time  of  sore  need,  he  exclaimed  :  ''  Sac- 
rifices I  liave  I  not  made  them  ?  What  is  my  life  here 
but  a  daily  sacritice  ?  Xor  shall  I  ever  withhold  sacri- 
fices for  my  country,  where  they  avail  anything.  I 
intend  to  serve  her  anywhere,  in  any  way  in  which  I 
am  jDermitted  to  do  it  with  effect,  even  if  it  be  as  a 
private  soldier.  But  if  this  method  of  making  war  is 
to  prevail,  which  they  seek  to  establish  in  my  case,  the 
country  is  ruined.  My  duty  to  her  requires  that  I 
shall  utter  my  protest  against  it  in  the  most  energetic 
form  in  m}^  power,  and  that  is  to  resign."  He  also 
wrote  to  Governor  Letcher,  requesting  him  to  use  his 
influence  in  having  him  ordered  back  to  the  Institute, 
saying  the  order  from  the  War  Department  "Avas 
given  without  consulting  me,  and  is  abandoning  to  the 
enemy  what  has  cost  much  preparation,  expense,  and 
exposure  to  secure,  and  is  in  direct  conflict  with  my 
military  plans,  and  implies  a  want  of  confidence  in  my 
capacity  to  judge  when  General  Loring's  troops  should 
fall  back,  and  is  an  attempt  to  control  military  opera- 
tions in  detail  from  the  Secretary's  desk  at  a  distance. 
I  have,  for  the  reasons  set  forth  in  the  accompanying 
paper,  requested  to  be  ordered  back  to  the  Institute, 
and  if  this  is  denied  me,  then  to  have  my  resignation 
accepted.  I  ask  as  a  special  favor  that  you  will  have 
me  ordered  back  to  the  Institute.  As  a  single  order 
like  that  of  the  Secretary's  may  destroy  the  entire 
fruits  of  a  campaign,  I  cannot  reasonably  expect,  if 
my  operations  are  thus  to  be  interfered  with,  to  be  of 
much  service  in  the  field.     A  sense  of  duty  brought 


"NO,  NO:   I   MUST  RESIGN!"  233 

me  into  the  field,  and  has  thus  far  kept  me.  It  now 
appears  to  be  my  duty  to  return  to  the  Institute,  and 
I  hope  that  you  will  leave  no  stone  unturned  to  get 
me  there.  If  I  ever  acquired,  through  the  blessing  of 
Providence,  any  influence  over  troops,  this  undoing  my 
work  by  the  Secretary  may  greatly  diminish  that  in- 
fluence. I  regard  the  recent  expedition  as  a  great  suc- 
cess. ...  I  desire  to  say  nothing  against  the  Secre- 
tary of  War.  I  take  it  for  granted  that  he  has  done 
what  he  believes  to  be  best,  but  I  regard  such  a  policy 
as  ruinous. 

''  Yery  truly  your  friend, 

"T.  J.  Jackson." 

A  gentleman  who  had  an  interview  with  him  at 
this  critical  moment  thus  gives  the  result :  "  Xever 
can  I  forget  an  interview  held  with  him  the  night 
that  he  forwarded  his  resignation.  When  urged  to 
withhold  it,  upon  the  ground  that  the  country  could 
not  spare  his  services — that  his  name  was  alike  a  ter- 
ror to  our  enemies  and  a  tower  of  strength  to  our 
cause,  insj^iring  confidence  and  arousing  enthusiasm, 
even  among  the  doubtful  and  wavering — 'Xo,  no,' 
said  he, '  you  greatly  overestimate  my  capacity  for  use- 
fulness. A  better  man  will  soon  be  sent  to  take  my 
place.  The  government  have  no  confidence  in  my 
capacity,  or  they  would  not  thus  countermand  my 
orders,  and  throw  away  the  fruits  of  victory  that  have 
been  secured  at  such  a  sacrifice  of  the  comfort  of  my 
noble  troops  in  their  hurried  march  through  the  storm 
of  snow  and  sleet.  No,  sir,  I  must  resign,  and  give 
my  place  to  some  one  in  whom  they  have  more  confi- 
dence.' " 


234  LItE   OF   GENERAL   THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 

"When  urged  that  perhaps  the  government  had  been 
misinformed  as  to  the  facts,  he  responded : 

"  Certainly  they  have  ;  but  they  must  be  taught  not 
to  act  so  hastily  without  a  full  knowledge  of  the  facts. 
I  can  teach  them  this  lesson  now  by  my  resignation, 
and  the  country  Avill  be  no  loser  by  it.  If  I  fail  to  do 
so,  an  irreparable  loss  may  hereafter  be  sustained, 
when  the  lesson  might  have  to  be  taught  by  a  Lee  or 
Johnston.''  This  was  nearly  his  exact  language,  as  we 
well  remember  it.  But  little  he  knew  that  when  his 
services  were  lost  to  the  cause  —  or,  as  General  Lee 
afterwards  expressed  it,  that  he  had  lost  his  right  arm 
— the  whole  army  would  be  paralyzed,  and  the  cause 
itself  lost.  But  our  far-seeing  and  sagacious  governor 
knew  the  worth  of  Stonewall  Jackson  to  the  army, 
and  wrote  at  once,  begging  him  to  reconsider  his  de- 
cision, and  sent  one  of  his  most  influential  officials  to 
remonstrate  with  him  in  person  against  his  leaving  the 
army.  The  same  protests  poured  in  from  other  quar- 
ters, from  persons  of  all  grades,  both  in  public  and 
private  life,  among  them  some  aged  ministers  of  the 
Gospel — all  imploring  him  to  withdraw  his  resignation. 
In  reply  to  a  second  letter  from  Governor  Letcher,  he 
wrote : 

"Winchester,  Feb.  6th,  1862. 

"  His  Excellency  John  Letcher,  Governor  of  Yirmnia : 
"  Governor, — Your  letter  of  the  ith  instant  was  re- 
ceived this  morning.  If  my  retiring  from  the  army 
would  produce  tliat  effect  upon  our  country  which  you 
have  named  in  your  letter,  I,  of  course,  would  not  de- 
sire to  leave  the  service  ;  and  if,  upon  the  receipt  of  this 
note,  your  o]iinion  remains  unchanged,  you  are  author- 
ized to  withdraw  my  resignation,  unless  the  Secretary 


WITHDRAWS  HIS  RESIGNATION.  235 

of  War  desires  that  it  should  be  accepted.  My  reasons 
for  resigning  were  set  forth  in  my  letter  of  the  31st 
ultimo,  and  my  views  remain  unchanged ;  and  if  the 
Secretary  persists  in  the  ruinous  policy  complained  of, 
I  feel  that  no  officer  can  serve  his  country  better  than 
by  making  his  strongest  possible  protest  against  it, 
which,  in  my  opinion,  is  done  by  tendering  his  resigna- 
tion, rather  than  be  a  wilful  instrument  in  prosecuting 
the  war  upon  a  ruinous  principle.  I  am  much  obliged 
to  you  for  requesting  that  I  should  be  ordered  to  the 
Institute. 

"  Yery  truly  your  friend, 

"  T.  J.  Jackson.'' 

Upon  receiving  assurances  from  the  government 
that  it  did  not  intend  to  interfere  with  his  military 
plans.  Governor  Letcher  deemed  it  best  to  Avithdraw 
his  resignation  in  the  name  of  Virginia ;  and  to  this 
he  yielded  with  true  soldierly  obedience,  and  it  was 
thus  that  Stonewall  Jackson  was  preserved  to  the 
army. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 
KERXSTOWX,  Mcdowell,  and  Winchester— 1 862. 

After  all  the  hardships  and  trials  of  the  late  ex- 
pedition, General  Jackson  returned  from  Romney  to 
"Winchester  so  full  of  animation  and  high  spirits,  gal- 
loping along  on  his  little  sorrel  with  such  speed  through 
the  mud  and  slush,  that  one  of  his  elder  staff-officers 
laughingly  said  to  him :  ''  AVell,  general,  /  am  not  so 
anxious  to  see  Mrs.  Jackson  as  to  break  my  neck  keep- 
ing up  with  you,  and  with  your  permission  I  shall  fall 
back  and  take  it  more  leisurely."  As  they  were  not 
in  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  the  request  was  granted,  and 
this  officer,  with  some  others,  did  not  reach  AVinches- 
ter  until  the  day  following,  Avhile  General  Jackson, 
with  tlie  younger  members  of  the  staff,  rode  the  whole 
forty  miles  in  one  short  winter  day.  After  going  to 
a  hotel  and  divesting  himself  of  the  mud  which  had 
bespattered  him  in  his  rapid  ride,  and  making  as  per- 
fect a  toilet  as  possible,  he  rang  the  door-bell  of  Mr. 
Graham,  who  admitted  him,  and  in  another  moment 
he  came  bounding  into  the  sitting-room  as  joyous  and 
fresh  as  a  schoolboy,  to  give  his  wife  a  surprise,  for 
he  had  not  intimated  when  he  would  return.  As  soon 
as  the  first  glad  greetings  w^ere  over,  before  taking  his 
seat,  with  a  face  all  aglow  Avith  delight,  he  glanced 
around  the  room,  and  was  so  impressed  with  the  cosy 
and  cheerful  aspect  of  Mr.  Graham's  fireside,  as  we  all 


JOYFUL   RETURN   HOME.  237 

sat  round  it  that  winter  evening,  that  he  exclaimed : 
"  Oh  !  this  is  the  very  essence  of  comfort  /"  The  bright 
picture  of  home-life  was  exceedingly  refreshing  to  him 
after  all  the  discomfort  and  exposure  through  which 
he  had  passed  since  he  left  us  three  weeks  before.  He 
never  looked  better  and  more  radiant  than  on  that 
evening.  Mr.  Graham  had  an  interesting  little  family 
of  children,  who  afforded  him  much  pleasure,  and  it 
was  the  special  privilege  of  one  of  the  little  boys  to 
ride  down-stairs  in  the  mornings  upon  the  back  of  the 
general,  the  performance  provoking  as  much  glee  on 
his  part  as  it  did  on  that  of  the  child.'-^ 

In  making  tlie  trip  from  Eomney,  he  was  more  than 
ever  charmed  with  '^  Little  Sorrel,"  whose  powers  of 
endurance  proved  quite  remarkable.  After  bearing 
him  along  with  so  much  fleetness  and  comfort,  he  said 
the  horse  seemed  almost  as  fresh  and  unwearied  at  the 
end  of  the  journey  as  at  the  beginning. 

When  the  Loring  troubles  came,  and  General  Jack- 
son thought  he  might  be  ordered  back  to  the  Institute, 
the  anticipation  of  returning  home  gave  him  unbound- 
ed happiness— the  only  consideration  marring  it  being 
a  feeling  that  his  paramount  duty  was  to  be  in  the 
field  when  his  country  was  in  danger.  Duty  alone  con- 
strained him  to  forego  the  happiness  and  comforts  of  his 
beloved  home  for  the  daily  hardships  of  a  soldier's  life. 

For  the  next  month  after  his  return  he  remained 
quietly  in  Winchester.  After  Loring^s  evacuation  of 
Eomney  the  Federal  troops  again  took  possession,  and 

*  It  is  an  interesting  item  of  the  fomily  liistory  that  the  little 
youngster  who  was  thus  honored,  when  he  grew  to  manhood,  be- 
came a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  and,  as  the  Hev.  Alfred  T.  Graham, 
was  married  to  Miss  Isabel  Irwin,  a  niece  of  Mrs.  Jackson. 


238      LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

spread  in  such  numbers  along  the  border  as  to  threat- 
en Winchester  on  ev^ery  side ;  and  the  difficulties  of 
General  Jackson's  position  Avere  greatly  enhanced  by 
a  diminution  of  his  small  army,  Loring  and  all  his 
troops  that  were  not  Virginians  having  been  or- 
dered elsewhere ;  and  in  order  to  induce  re-enlist- 
ment, furloughs  had  Ijeen  freely  granted ;  so  that, 
at  the  time  of  the  most  imminent  danger.  General 
Jackson's  force  was  reduced  to  about  four  thousand 
effective  men,  exclusive  of  militia.  He  informed  the 
commander-in-chief  that  his  position  required  at  least 
nine  thousand  men  for  its  defence,  threatened  as  it  was 
by  Banks  on  one  side  and  Lauder  on  the  other.  But  as 
Johnston  was  himself  preparing  to  retreat  before  the 
advance  of  McClellan,  he  had  no  troops  to  spare.  To 
a  friend  in  the  Confederate  Congress  Jackson  wrote : 

''"What  I  desire  is,  to  hold  the  country  as  far  as 
practicable  until  we  are  in  a  condition  to  advance ; 
and  then,  with  God's  blessing,  let  us  make  thorough 
work  of  it.  But  let  us  start  right.  ...  In  regard  to 
your  question  as  to  how  many  troops  I  need,  you  will 
probably  be  able  to  form  some  idea  when  I  tell  you. 
that  Banks,  who  commands  about  thirty-five  thousand, 
has  his  headquarters  in  Charleston,  and  that  Kelly, 
who  has  succeeded  Lander,  has  probably  eleven  thou- 
sand, with  his  headquarters  near  Paw -Paw.  Thus 
you  see  two  generals,  whose  united  force  is  near  forty- 
six  thousand  troops,  already  organized  for  three  years 
or  the  war,  opposed  to  our  little  force  here ;  but  I 
do  not  feel  discouraged.  Let  me  have  what  force 
you  can.  McClellan,  as  I  learn,  was  at  Charleston  on 
Friday  last;    there  may  be  something  significant  in 


PREPARING  TO  LEAVE  WINCHESTER.       239 

this.  You  observe,  then,  the  impossibility  of  saying 
how  many  troops  I  shall  require,  since  it  is  impossible 
for  nie  to  know  how  many  will  invade  us.  I  am  de- 
lighted to  hear  j^ou  say  Virginia  is  resolved  to  conse- 
crate all  her  resources,  if  necessary,  to  the  defence  of 
herself.  IN'ow  we  may  look  for  war  in  earnest.  You 
ask  me  for  a  letter  respecting  the  Yalley.  I  am  well 
satisfied  that  you  can  say  much  more  about  it  than  I 
can,  and  in  much  more  forcible  terms.  I  have  only  to 
say  this,  that  if  this  valley  is  lost,  Virginia  is  lost. 

*'  Yery  truly  your  friend,         T.  J.  Jackson." 

Jackson  meanwhile  remained  at  Winchester,  watch- 
ing closely  the  advance  of  Banks,  and  doing  what  was 
possible  to  impede  it.  General  Johnston  thus  describes 
the  duty  assigned  to  him  :  "  After  it  had  become  evi- 
dent that  the  Yalley  Avas  to  be  invaded  by  an  army 
too  strong  to  be  encountered  by  Jackson's  division, 
that  officer  was  instructed  to  endeavor  to  employ  the 
invaders  in  the  Yalley,  but  without  exposing  himself 
to  the  danger  of  defeat,  by  keeping  so  near  the  enemy 
as  to  keep  him  from  making  any  considerable  detach- 
ment to  reinforce  McClellan,  but  not  so  near  that  he 
might  be  compelled  to  fight."  General  Jackson  sent 
his  stores,  baggage,  and  the  sick  to  the  rear,  but  con- 
tinued to  hold  his  position  to  the  last  moment.  Early 
in  March,  when  he  found  that  he  would  be  compelled 
to  retire  from  Winchester,  although  his  heart  was 
yearning  to  stay  and  defend  the  place,  he  thought  it 
was  no  longer  safe  for  me  to  remain,  and  I  was  sent 
away  on  the  same  train  which  conveyed  the  sick  to  a 
place  of  safety.  In  the  midst  of  all  this  terrible  men- 
tal strain  my  husband  maintained  the  most  perfect 


240  I^IFE   OF   GENERAL   THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

self-control  and  cheerfulness,  throwing  off  (^when  in 
my  presence  at  least)  the  heavy  burden  under  which 
he  labored — talking  as  little  as  j^ossible  about  military 
matters,  and  showing  much  of  his  old  home  playful- 
ness and  abandon.  lie  told  me  tliat  when  his  ''sun- 
shine*' was  gone  out  of  the  room  which  had  been  to 
us  the  holy  of  hohes  on  earth  that  winter,  he  never 
wanted  to  enter  it  again;  and  yet  to  the  last  mo- 
ment he  lingered  at  the  door  of  the  coach  in  which  I 
left  Avith  bright  smiles,  and  not  a  cloud  upon  his  peace- 
ful brow.     For  thirteen  months  we  did  not  meet  again. 

Xever,  as  long  as  life  lasts,  can  I  forget  the  harrow- 
ing scenes  of  that  day  upon  Avhich  I  left  Winchester. 
Many  of  the  poor  soldiers  looked  as  if  they  were  almost 
at  the  point  of  death.  Some  were  so  helpless  that  they 
had  to  be  carried  on  the  backs  of  their  comrades — their 
pale,  emaciated,  and  despairing  faces  and  moans  of  suf- 
fering being  pitiful  and  heart-moving  beyond  descrip- 
tion. At  Manassas  there  w^as  a  delay  of  an  hour  or 
more  in  transferring  them  to  another  train,  and  as  I 
sat  and  watched  that  procession  of  concentrated  mis- 
ery, with  my  own  lieart  so  heavy  and  anxious,  I  was 
never  so  impressed  with  tlie  horrors  of  war. 

Xo  i^y  of  sunshine  lightened  the  gloom.  As  I  jour- 
neyed sadly  along,  my  attention  was  attracted  by  the 
conversation  of  a  lady  and  gentleman  Avho  sat  imme- 
diately in  front  of  me.  He  was  a  Confederate  officer, 
and  she  was  plying  him  v»'ith  questions  about  the  army, 
its  officers,  etc.  After  freely  discussing  Lee,  Johnston, 
and  others,  the  lady  asked :  '•  And  what  do  you  think 
of  Old  Stonewall  f^  I  almost  held  my  breath,  but 
could  not  have  been  more  gratified  when  the  answer 
came,  for  it  Avas  this:  "I  have  tJie  iiiod  iinpllcU  conji- 


PROPOSES  A  NIGHT  ATTACK.    .      241 

d.eiiee  hi  him,  madam.  At  first  I  did  not  know  Avhat 
to  think  of  his  bokl  and  aggressive  mode  of  warfare ; 
but  since  I  I'now  the  man,  and  have  witnessed  his  abil- 
ity and  patriotic  devotion,  /  v:oiold  follow  Mm  any- 
ichereP  How  my  heart  warmed  to  tliat  stranger, 
who  little  knew  that  General  Jackson's  wife  was  a 
listener. to  a  commendation  which  could  not  have  been 
more  satisfactory  if  it  had  been  given  for  her  benefit! 
This  was  to  me  the  brightest  gleam  of  sunlight  on  that 
dreary  journey. 

To  show  General  Jackson's  extreme  reluctance  to 
retreat  from  the  loyal  old  town  of  Winchester  Avithout 
striking  a  blow  in  its  defence,  he  conceived  the  bold 
idea  of  becoming  the  attacking  party  himself,  and  to 
this  end  he  called  a  council  of  his  chief  officers,  and 
proposed  to  them  a  night  attack  upon  Banks.  In  the 
meantime,  while  they  were  assembling,  he  went,  all 
booted  and  spurred,  to  make  a  hasty  call  on  his  friend 
Mr.  Graham,  whose  family  he  found  oppressed  with 
the  gloom  which  overspread  the  whole  town.  He  was 
so  buoyant  and  hopeful  himself  that  their  drooping 
spirits  were  revived,  and  after  engaging  with  them 
in  family  worship  he  returned  to  meet  his  council  of 
war.  However,  his  proposition  was  not  approved,  and 
he  hurried  back  to  correct  the  impression  he  had  made 
upon  his  friends  by  his  cheering  words  and  sanguine 
predictions ;  his  countenance  and  bearing,  v\'hich  at 
that  time  beamed  with  hope  and  the  fire  of  patriotic 
devotion,  were  now  changed  to  deepest  perplexity  and 
depression.  Still,  he  was  so  loath  to  give  up  his  coveted 
scheme  that  he  said,  with  slow  and  desperate  earnest- 
ness: ''But — let  me  think — can  I  not  yet  carry  my 
plan  into  execution  ?"  As  he  uttered  these  Avords  he 
16 


242      LIFE  QF  GEXERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

grasped  the  liilt  of  his  SAvord,  raised  his  face  with  a 
look  of  determination,  and  the  light  of  battle  glowed 
in  his  eyes ;  but  the  next  moment  he  dropped  his  head, 
and,  releasing  his  sword,  said  :  ''  Xo;  I  must  not  do  it; 
it  may  cost  the  lives  of  too  many  brave  men.  I  must 
retreat,  and  wait  for  a  better  time." 

On  the  Tth  of  March  General  Banks  approached 
within  four  miles  of  AVinchester,  and  General  Jackson 
drew  up  his  little  force  in  line  of  battle  to  meet  him ; 
but  the  former  withdrew  without  attacking.  The  ac- 
tivity  of  Ashby  and  the  boldness  with  wdiich  Jackson 
maintained  his  position  impressed  his  adversary  with 
the  conviction  that  the  Confederate  force  Avas  much 
larger  than  it  Avas  in  reality.  Banks  advanced  in  a 
cautious  and  wary  manner,  refusing  to  attack,  but 
pushing  forward  his  left  Aving  so  as  to  threaten  Jack- 
son's flank  and  rear.  By  the  11th  of  March  this  move- 
ment had  gone  so  far  that  it  Avas  no  longer  safe  to  hold 
Winchester.  Jackson  remained  under  arms  all  day, 
hoping  for  an  attack  in  front,  but  none  Avas  made;  and 
late  in  the  afternoon  his  little  army  Avithdrew  from  the 
toAvn,  and  it  Avas  occupied  by  the  Federals  the  next  day, 
March  12th.  The  Confederates  continued  to  retreat 
sloAvly  to  Woodstock  and  Mount  Jackson,  forty  miles  in 
rear  of  Winchester,  and  Shields's  diAision  Avas  thrown 
forward  in  pursuit  to  Strasburg  on  the  ITth. 

To  his  Avife  General  Jackson  Avrote  on  the  10th  of 
March  from  Winchester : 

''  My  darling,  you  made  a  timely  retreat  from  here, 
for  on  Friday  the  Yankees  came  Avithin  five  miles  of 
this  place.  Ashby  skirmished  for  some  time  Avith 
them,  and  after  they  fell  back  he  followed  them  until 


GENERAL  BANKS  IX  WINCHESTER.  243 

they  halted  near  Bunker  Hill,  which  is  twelve  miles 
from  here,  where  they  are  at  present.  The  troops 
are  in  excellent  spirits.  .  .  .  How  God  does  bless  ns 
wherever  we  are  !  [This  was  in  reference  to  the  kind- 
ness we  had  received  in  Winchester.]  I  am  very 
thankful  for  the  measure  of  health  with  which  He 
blesses  me.  I  do  not  remember  having  been  in  such 
good  health  for  years.  .  .  .  My  heart  is  just  overflow- 
ing Avith  love  for  my  little  darling  wife." 

"Woodstock,  Marcli  ITtli,  1862. 
"  The  Federals  have  possession  of  Winchester.  They 
advanced  upon  the  town  the  Friday  after  you  left, 
but  Ashby,  aided  by  a  kind  Providence,  drove  them 
back.  I  had  the  other  troops  under  arms,  and  marched 
to  meet  the  enemy,  but  they  did  not  come  nearer  than 
about  five  miles  of  the  town,  and  fell  back  to  Bunker 
Hill.  On  last  Tuesday  they  advanced  again,  and 
again  our  troops  were  under  arms  to  meet  them,  but 
after  coming  within  four  miles  of  the  town  they 
halted  for  the  night.  I  was  in  hopes  that  they  would 
advance  on  me  during  the  evening,  as  I  felt  that  God 
would  give  us  the  victory  ;  but  as  they  halted  for  the 
night,  and  I  kneAV  they  could  have  large  reinforce- 
ments by  morning,  I  determined  to  fall  back,  and  sent 
my  troops  back  the  same  night  to  their  wagons  in 
rear  of  "Winchester,  and  the  next  morning  moved  still 
farther  to  the  rear." 

The  retirement  of  Jackson  and  the  unopposed  occu- 
pation of  the  lower  valley  by  Banks  relieved  McClel- 
lan  of  all  fears  in  that  direction  ;  and  in  pursuance  of 
President  Lincoln's  requirement,  Banks  was  ordered 


2J:1      LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

to  intrench  liimself  in  the  vicinit}^  of  Manassas,  in  or- 
der to  guard  the  approaches  to  AVashington.  Sliields's 
division  was  accordingly  recalled  from  Strasburg,  and 
the  Federals  began  their  movement  towards  Manassas 
on  the  2<ith  of  March.  On  the  evening  of  the  21st 
Ash  by  reported  that  the  enemy  had  evacuated  Stras- 
burg. Jackson,  divinino-  that  this  meant  a  withdrawal 
towards  AVashington,  at  once  ordered  pursuit  with 
all  his  available  force.  The  whole  of  his  little  army 
reached  Strasburg  on  the  afternoon  of  the  :^2d,  the 
greater  part  after  a  march  of  twenty-two  miles.  Mean- 
time the  indefatigable  Ashby  Avas  following  close  be- 
hind the  retreating  enemy,  and  late  in  the  afternoon 
of  tlie  22d,  as  Jackson  was  entering  Strasburg,  Ashby 
was  attacking  the  Federal  pickets  one  mile  south  of 
Winchester.  After  the  skirmish,  Ashl^v  camped  for 
the  night  at  Ivernstown,  three  miles  south  of  Win- 
chester. General  Shields,  w4io  commanded  the  troops 
Ashby  had  attacked,  and  who  was  himself  Avounded 
in  the  skirmish,  had  displayed  but  a  small  part  of  his 
force;  and  this  fact,  combined  Avith  information  ob- 
tained Avithin  the  Federal  lines,  misled  the  Confeder- 
ates. The  reports  brought  out  led  Ashby  to  believe 
that  all  but  one  brigade  had  gone,  and  that  it  expected 
to  leave  for  Harper's  Ferry  the  next  day ;  but  the  fact 
was  that  Shields's  division  of  three  brigades  still  re- 
mained. This  information  caused  Jackson  to  push  on 
AA^ith  all  haste  the  next  morning.  At  daylight  he  sent 
three  companies  of  infantry  to  reinforce  Ashby,  and 
followed  Avitli  his  Avhole  force.  After  a  march  of  four- 
teen miles  he  reached  Kernstown  at  2  p.m.  Shields 
had  made  his  disposition  to  meet  attack,  and  Ashby 
kept    up   an   active    skirmish   with   the   adA^ance    of 


BATTLE   OF   KERXSTOWX.  215 

Shielcls's  force  during  the  forenoon.  But  though  thus 
making  ready,  the  Federal  generals  did  not  expect  an 
attack  in  earnest,  beheving  that  Jackson  coukl  not  be 
tempted  to  hazard  himself  so  far  from  his  main  sup- 
port. When  he  reached  Kernstown  his  troops  were 
very  weary.  Three  fourths  of  them  had  marched 
thirty-six  miles  since  the  preceding  morning.  He 
therefore  gave  directions  for  bivouacking,  and  says  in 
his  report :  ''  Though  it  was  very  desirable  to  prevent 
the  enemy  from  leaving  the  Valley,  yet  I  deemed  it 
best  not  to  attack  until  morning.  But  subsequently 
ascertaining  that  the  Federals  had  a  position  from 
Avhich  our  forces  could  be,  seen,  I  concluded  that  it 
would  be  dangerous  to  postpone  the  attack  until  the 
next  day,  as  reinforcements  might  be  brought  up  dur- 
ing the  night.''  Jackson,  therefore,  led  his  men  to  the 
attack.  His  plan  was  to  gain  the  ridge  upon  which 
the  Federal  right  flank  rested,  turn  that  flank,  and  get 
command  of  the  road  from  Kernstown  to  Winchester 
in  the  rear.  He  gained  the  top  of  the  ridge,  but 
Shields  held  him  in  check  until  he  could  hurry  other 
troops  to  that  flank,  when  Jackson  in  turn  became 
the  attacked  party.  For  three  hours  of  this  Sunday 
afternoon  the  sanguinary  and  stubborn  contest  con- 
tinued. But  bravely  as  the  Confederates  fought,  they 
were  finally  overcome  by  the  superior  numbers  of  the 
enemy,  and  were  compelled  to  retreat.  Weary  and 
dispirited  vras  the  little  army  which  had  marched  four- 
teen miles  in  the  morning  to  attack  a  force  more  than 
double  its  own,  and  which  had  for  three  hours  wrestled 
for  victory  in  so  vigorous  a  manner  as  to  astonish  and 
deceive  the  enemy.  Baffled  and  overpowered,  it  slow- 
ly retraced  its  path  for  six  miles  more,  and  sank  to 


2^6  LIFE   OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

rest.  In  the  fence  corners,  under  the  trees,  and  around 
the  wagons,  the  soldiers  threw  themselves  down,  many 
too  tired  to  eat,  and  forgot  in  slumber  the  toils,  dan- 
gers, and  disappointments  of  the  day.  Jackson  shared 
the  open-air  bivouac  with  his  men.  His  faithful  com- 
missary, Major  Hawks,  made  a  roaring  fire,  and  was 
making  a  bed  of  rails,  when  the  general  wished  to 
know  what  he  was  doing.  ''  Fixing  a  place  to  sleep,'' 
was  the  reply.  ''  Yon  seem  determined  to  make  your- 
self and  those  around  3^ou  comfortable,''  said  Jack- 
son. Knowing  the  general  had  fasted  all  day,  the 
major  soon  obtained  some  bread  and  meat  from  the 
nearest  squad  of  soldiers,  (ind  after  they  had  satisfied 
their  hunger  they  slept  soundly  on  tlie  rail  bed  in  a 
fence  corner. 

The  Federals  picked  up  two  or  three  hundred  pris- 
oners, and  as  they  marched  them  through  the  streets 
of  Winchester  the  inhabitants  turned  out  almost  en 
masse  to  show  them  their  sympathy,  and  many  of 
their  friends  and  kindred  were  recognized  among  the 
captives.  The  next  day  the  citizens  asked  and  obtained 
permission  to  bury  the  Confederate  dead  on  the  battle- 
field, and  persons  of  all  ages  and  conditions  flocked 
thither,  for  there  was  scarcely  a  family  in  the  county 
which  had  not  a  relative  in  Jackson's  command ;  and 
Avith  torturing  anxiety  the  women  looked  into  the 
face  of  every  prostrate  form,  fearing  to  find  it  one  of 
their  own  loved  ones.  The  wounded  had  been  taken 
off  the  battle-field  by  their  general,  who  ordered  his 
medical  director.  Dr.  McGuire,  to  send  them  to  the 
rear.  As  the  army  was  retreating,  the  surgeon  said : 
"  But  that  requires  time.  Can  you  stay  to  protect 
us  ?"     ''  Make  yourself  easy  about  that."  replied  he ; 


RETIRES  TO  MOUXT  JACKSOX.  247 

''  this  army  stays  hero  until  the  hast  wounded  man  is 
removed."  And  then  with  deep  f'eehng  he  said :  "  Be- 
fore I  will  leave  them  to  the  enemy  I  will  lose  many 
more  men."  The  next  morning  after  the  battle,  Gen- 
eral Jackson  gradually  retired  before  the  advancing 
enemy,  once  more,  to  Mount  Jackson. 

To  his  wife  he  wrote  on  the  24th  of  March : 

"  Yesterday  important  considerations,  in  my  opin- 
ion, rendered  it  necessary  to  attack  the  enemy  near 
Winchester.  The  action  commenced  about  3  p.m.  and 
lasted  until  dark.  Our  men  fought  bravely,  but  the 
superior  numbers  of  the  enem}^  repulsed  me.  Many 
valuable  lives  were  lost.  Our  God  was  my  shield. 
His  protecting  care  is  an  additional  cause  for  grati- 
tude. I  lost  one  piece  of  artillery  and  three  caissons. 
The  loss  of  the  enemy  in  killed  and  wounded  was 
probably  superior  to  ours." 

"  March  2Sth.  N^ear  Mount  Jackson.  ...  My  lit- 
tle army  is  in  excellent  spirits.  It  feels  that  it  inflicted 
a  severe  blow  upon  the  enemy.  I  stayed  in  camp  last 
night  bivouacking.  To-day  I  am  in  the  house  of  a 
Mr.  Allen,  where  I  am  quite  comfortable.  This  is  a 
beautiful  country.  The  celebrated  Meem  farm  is  near 
here,  and  is  the  most  magnificent  one  that  I  know  of 
anywhere.  After  God,  our  God,  again  blesses  us  with 
peace,  I  hope  to  visit  this  country  with  my  darling, 
and  enjoy  its  beauty  and  loveliness." 

"April  Tth.  My  precious  pet,  your  sickness  gives 
me  great  concern  ;•  but  so  live  that  it,  and  all  your  tri- 
als, may  be  sanctified  to  you,  remembering  that  '  our 


24S  LIFE   OF  GENERAL  THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 

light  afflictions,  which  are  but  for  a  moment,  work  out 
for  us  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  Aveight  of 
glory/  I  trust  you  and  all  I  have  in  the  hands  of 
a  kind  Providence,  knowincj  that  all  thino:s  work  to- 
gether  for  the  good  of  His  people. 

'"  Yesterdav  was  a  lovelv  Sabbath  dav.  Altliouofh 
I  had  not  the  privilege  of  hearing  the  word  of  life, 
yet  it  felt  like  a  holy  Sabbath  day,  beautiful,  serene, 
and  lovely.  All  it  wanted  was  the  church-bell  and 
God's  services  in  the  sanctuarv  to  make  it  complete. 
.  .  .  Our  gallant  little  army  is  increasing  in  numbers, 
and  my  prayer  is  that  it  may  be  an  army  of  the  living 
God  as  well  as  of  its  country." 

"  x\pril  11th.  I  am  very  much  concerned  at  having 
no  letter  this  week,  but  my  trust  is  in  the  Almighty. 
How  precious  is  the  consolation  flowing  from  the 
Christian's  assurance  that  ^all  things  work  together 
for  good  to  them  that  love  God  I'  .  .  .  God  gave  us  a 
glorious  victory  in  the  Southwest  [at  Shiloh],  but  the 
loss  of  the  great  Albert  Sidney  Johnston  is  to  be 
mourned.  I  do  not  remember  having  ever  felt  so  sad 
at  tlie  death  of  a  man  whom  I  had  never  seen.  .  .  . 
Although  I  was  repulsed  in  the  attempt  to  recover 
Winchester,  yet  the  enemy's  loss  appears  to  have  been 
three  times  that  of  ours.  In  addition  to  this,  the  great 
object  which  required  me  to  follow  up  tlie  enemy,  as 
he  fell  back  from  Strasburg,  seems  to  have  been  ac- 
complished very  thoroughly.  I  am  well  satisfied  with 
the  result.  Congress  has  jmssed  a  vote  of  thanks,  and 
General  Johnston  has  issued  a  very  gratifj^ing  order 
upon  the  suljject,  one  which  will  have  a  fine  effect 
upon  my  command.     The  great  object  to  be  acquired 


FIGHTING  A  BATTLE   OX   SUNDAY.  249 

by  tbe  battle  demanded  time  to  make  known  its  ac- 
complisbments.  Time  bas  sbown  tbat  wbile  tbe  field 
is  in  possession  of  tbe  enemy,  tbe  most  essential  frnits 
of  tbe  battle  are  ours.  For  tins  and  all  of  our  Heav- 
enly Fatber's  blessings,  I  wisb  I  could  be  ten  tbousand 
times  more  tbankful.  Sbould  any  report  be  publisbed, 
my  views  and  object  in  iigbting  and  its  fruits  v^'ili 
tben  become  known.  You  appear  mucb  concerned  at 
my  attacking  on  Sunday.  I  was  greatly  concerned, 
too ;  but  I  felt  it  my  duty  to  do  it,  in  consideration  of 
tbe  ruinous  effects  tbat  migbt  result  from  postponing 
tbe  battle  until  tbe  morning.  So  far  as  I  can  see,  my 
course  was  a  wise  one ;  tbe  best  tbat  I  could  do  under 
tbe  circumstances,  tbougb  very  distasteful  to  my  feel- 
ings ;  and  I  bope  and  pray  to  our  Heavenly  Fatber 
tbat  I  may  never  again  be  circumstanced  as  on  tbat 
day.  I  believed  tbat  so  far  as  our  troops  were  con- 
cerned, necessity  and  mercy  botb  called  for  tbe  battle. 
I  do  bope  tbe  war  will  soon  be  over,  and  tliat  I  sball 
never  again  bave  to  take  tbe  field.  Arms  is  a  pro- 
fession that,  if  its  principles  are  adbered  to  for  suc- 
cess, requires  an  officer  to  do  what  be  fears  may  be 
wrong,  and  yet,  according  to  military  experience,  must 
be  done,  if  success  is  to  be  attained.  And  tbis  fact  of 
its  being  necessary  to  success,  and  being  accompanied 
witb  success,  and  tbat  a  departure  from  it  is  accom- 
panied witb  disaster,  suggests  tbat  it  must  be  rigbt. 
Had  I  fougbt  tbe  battle  on  Monday  instead  of  Sun- 
day, I  fear  our  cause  would  bave  suffered ;  Avbereas, 
as  tbings  turned  out,  I  consider  our  cause  gained  mucb 
from  tbe  engagement." 

His  bold  attack  at  Kernstown,  tbouofb  unsuccess- 


250      LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

ful,  led  to  many  important  results.  Its  first  effect 
was  the  accomplishment  of  one  of  the  principal  ob- 
jects of  the  Confederates — the  recall  of  the  Federal 
troops  then  marching  from  the  Valley  towards 
Manassas.  It  had  also  the  effect  of  chantrinir  the 
disposition  of  several  of  their  divisions  and  corps, 
and  producing  such  consternation  at  AVashington 
that  President  Lincoln  did  not  consider  his  capital 
secure,  and  detained  McDowell's  corps  in  front  of 
the  city,  although  General  McClellan  had  left  over 
forty  thousand  troops  for  its  defence  ! 

For  this  achievement  at  Kernstown  the  Confederate 
Congress  passed  the  following  resolution  of  thanks : 

"  1.  Besolved  by  the  Congress  of  the  Confederate 
States,  that  the  thanks  of  Congress  are  due,  and  are 
hereby  tendered,  to  Major-General  Thomas  J.  Jack- 
son, and  the  officers  and  men  under  his  command, 
for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  in  a  successful 
engagement  with  a  greatly  superior  force  of  the 
enemy  near  Kernstown,  Frederick  County,  Virginia, 
on  the  23d  of  March,  1S62.  2.  Resolved,  that  these 
resolutions  be  communicated  by  the  Secretary  of 
War  to  Major-General  Jackson,  and  by  him  to  his 
command." 

The  noble  women  of  Winchester,  during  the  whole 
war,  devoted  themselves  to  nursing  the  sick  and 
wounded  soldiers  with  tender  care  and  self-sacrilice, 
and  their  compassion  failed  not  even  in  administer- 
ing to  the  wounded  of  the  enemy.  And  after  the 
war  Avas  over,  from  the  midst  of  saddened  and  deso- 
late homes,  they  continued  their  self-denying  care  for 


MEMORIALS   TO   THE   DEAD.  251 

the  ashes  of  the  brave  men  to  whose  comfort  and 
encouragement  they  had  contributed  so  freely  in  life, 
and  by  whose  suffering  cots  they  had  often  watched 
in  sorrow,  danger,  and  death.  Under  the  leadership 
of  Mrs.  Philip  Williams,  they  gathered  the  thousands 
of  Confederate  dead  from  the  surrounding  battle- 
fields and  placed  them  in  the  *'  Stonewall  Cemetery  " 
— a  memorial  not  more  to  the  patriotism  of  man  than 
to  the  devotion  of  woman.  They  also  erected  a  hand- 
some monument  to  ''  The  Unknown  Dead  " — and  the 
State  of  Maryland,  in  the  year  1880,  likewise  placed 
a  beautiful  monument  in  this  cemetery  in  memory  of 
her  brave  soldiers  who  fell  in  defence  of  the  South. 
It  is  said  that  the  State  of  jS'orth  Carolina  has  more 
soldiers  buried  upon  Virginia  battle-fields  than  any 
other  Southern  State — a  fact  which  speaks  for  itself 
in  showing  the  heroic  part  borne  by  the  good  Old 
North  State  in  the  struggle  for  independence. 

The  next  m^onth  after  the  battle  of  Kernstown  was 
to  General  Jackson  one  of  comparative  inaction.  He 
spent  it  in  recruiting  his  forces  and  reorganizing  his 
regiments,  his  ranks  filling  up  under  the  new  impe- 
tus given  to  enlistment  b}^  a  new  conscription  bill, 
and  by  the  return  of  furloughed  men,  which  nearly 
doubled  the  number  of  his  troops  since  the  battle, 
but  even  yet  he  had  only  about  five  or  six  thousand 
men.  His  great  desire  to  press  into  service  every 
available  man  in  Virginia  will  be  seen  by  the  fol- 
lowing letter,  which  he  wrote  on  the  21st  of  March  to 
Governor  Letcher's  aide-de-camp,  Colonel  French : 

''CoLoxEL, — Please  request  the  governor  to  order 
three  thousand  muskets  to  Staunton   at  his   earliest 


252     LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

convenience  for  the  militia  of  this  district.  Xone  of 
the  mihtia  beyond  the  county,  except  five  Imndred 
from  Augusta,  liave  yet  arrived,  but  they  are  turning 
out  encouragingly.  There  are  tliree  religious  denom- 
inations in  this  military  district  who  are  opposed  to 
v:ar.  Eighteen  [men]  were  recently  arrested  in  endeav- 
oring to  make  their  escape  through  Pendleton  County 
to  the  enemy.  Those  who  do  not  desert  will,  to  some 
extent,  hire  substitutes,  others  will  turn  out  in  obedi- 
ence to  the  governor's  call ;  but  I  understand  some  of 
them  say  they  will  not  '  shoot.'  They  can  be  made 
to  iire,  but  can  very  easilv  take  bad  aim.  So.  for  the 
purpose  of  giving  to  this  command  tlie  highest  degree 
of  efficiency,  and  securing  loyal  feelings  and  co-opera- 
tion, I  have,  as  these  non-combatants  are  said  to  be 
good  teamsters  and  faithful  to  their  promises,  deter- 
mined to  organize  them  into  companies  of  one  hundred 
men  each,  rank  and  file,  and  after  mustering  them, 
with  the  legal  number  of  company  officers,  into  ser- 
vice, assign  them  to  the  various  staff  departments 
without  issuing  arms  to  them ;  but  if  at  any  time 
they  have  insufficient  labor,  to  have  them  drilled,  so 
that  in  case  circumstances  should  justify  it,  arms  may 
be  given  them.  If  these  men  are,  as  represented  to 
me,  faithful  laborers  and  careful  of  property,  this  ar- 
rangement will  not  only  enable  many  volunteers  to 
return  to  the  ranks,  but  will  also  save  many  valuable 
horses  and  other  public  property,  in  addition  to  arms. 
.  .  .  All  I  have  pledged  myself  is  that,  as  far  as  prac- 
ticable, I  will  employ  them  in  other  wavs  than  fighting, 
but  witli  the  condition  that  they  shall  act  in  good 
faith  with  me,  and  not  permit  ])crsons  to  use  their 
names  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  out  of  service." 


BAXKS  FOLLOWS   JACKSOX   SLOWLY.  253 

On  the  2Stli  of  April,  General  Jackson  applied  to 
General  Lee,  then  acting  as  commander-in-chief  under 
President  Davis,  for  a  reinforcement  of  five  thousand 
men,  which  addition  to  his  force  he  deemed  necessary 
to  justify  him  in  marching  out  and  attacking  Banks. 
Kext  day  he  was  informed  that  no  troops  could  be 
spared  to  him  beyond  the  commands  of  Generals  Ewell 
and  Edward  Johnson,  the  latter  of  whom  was  seven 
miles  west  of  Staunton,  at  West  View,  with  a  brigade. 
General  J.  E.  Johnston  had  transferred  the  mass  of  his 
army  to  the  front  of  Kichmond,  where  he  had  taken 
command  in  person.  EwelFs  division  alone  remained 
on  the  Rappahannock  to  watch  the  enemy,  and  to 
aid  Jackson  in  case  of  need.  This  division  was  now 
near  Gordonsville,  and  a  good  road  from  that  point  to 
Swift  Tarn  Gap  placed  it  in  easy  reach  of  Jackson. 
Banks  followed  Jackson  but  slowly.  He  reached 
Woodstock  on  April  1st,  and  having  pushed  Ashby's 
cavalry  back  to  Edinburg,  five  miles  beyond,  ho 
attempted  no  further  serious  advance  until  the  17th. 
He  then  moved  forward  in  force,  and  Jackson  retired 
to  Harrisonburg,  and,  crossing  the  main  fork  of  the 
Shenandoah,  took  up  his  position  at  the  western  base 
of  the  Blue  Eidge,  in  Swift  Pam  Gap.  This  camp 
the  Confederates  reached  on  the  20th  of  April,  and 
here  they  remained  through  ten  days  more  of  rain 
and  mud. 

On   the  16th  of  April,  General  Jackson   wrote  to 

his  wife  as  follows : 

"  Kear  New  ]\Ls.eket. 

"This  morning  is  warm  and  spring-like,  and  this 
country  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  that  I  ever 
beheld.  .  .  .  On  last  Wednesday  the  enemy  advanced 


25.1:     LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

on  me  at  one  o'clock  a,  m.,  and  I  fell  back  to  this 
place,  where  I  arrived  on  Friday.  My  route  Avas 
through  Xew  Market  and  Harrisonburg.  I  am  about 
midway  between  Harrisonburg  and  Stannardsville. 
The  enemy  did  not  advance  as  far  as  Harrisonburg 
on  the  Valley  turnpike.  The  advance  of  the  two 
armies  is  within  a  few  miles  of  each  other.  ...  I  do 
want  so  much  to  see  my  darling,  but  fear  such  a  priv- 
ilege Avill  not  be  enjoyed  for  some  time  to  come.'' 

'•  Swift  Run  Gap. 

..."  Dr.  Dabney  is  here,  and  I  am  very  thankful 
to  God  for  it.  He  comes  up  to  my  highest  expecta- 
tions as  a  staff-officer." 

'•  Stauntox,  May  5th. 

"  Since  I  last  wrote  to  my  darling  I  have  been 
very  busy.  On  Wednesday  last  I  left  my  position 
near  Swift  Eun  Gap,  and  moved  up  the  south  fork 
of  the  Shenandoah  to  Port  Eepublic,  which  is  about 
three  miles  from  Weyer's  Cave.  I  w^ould  like  to  see 
the  cave,  for  I  remembered  that  my  little  pet  had 
been  there,  and  that  gave  me  a  deeper  interest  in  the 
great  curiosity.  The  road  up  the  river  was  so  treach- 
erous that  1  could  only  advance  about  six  miles  per 
day,  and  to  leave  the  road  was  at  the  risk  of  sinking 
yet  deeper  in  the  quicksands,  in  which  that  locality 
abounds.  The  countr}^  is  one  of  the  loveliest  I  have 
ever  seen.  On  Saturday  the  march  was  resumed, 
and  we  crossed  the  Blue  Kidge  at  what  is  known  as 
Brown's  Gap,  and  thus  entered  into  Eastern  Virginia. 
I  stopped  with  a  very  agreeable  family  named  Pace. 
Here  I  expected  to  pass  the  Sabbath,  but  on  Sunday 
morning  I  received  a  despatch  stating  that  part  of  the 


POSITIOX  OF   THE   TWO   ARMIES.  255 

enemy's  force  had  arrived  Avithin  one  day's  march  of 
Brigadier-General  Edward  Johnson's  camp.  Under 
the  circumstances  I  felt  it  incumbent  upon  me  to 
press  forward,  and  I  arrived  here  last  evening,  where 
I  am  stopping  at  the  Virginia  House.  The  troops  are 
still  coming  in.  The  corps  of  cadets  of  the  Virginia 
Mihtary  Institute  is  here." 

General  Edward  Johnson  was  seven  miles  west  of 
Staunton  with  about  thirty-five  hundred  men.  Gen- 
eral Jackson  had  about  six  thousand  troops,  and  Gen- 
eral Ewell,  with  an  equal  force,  was  in  the  vicinit}^  of 
Gordonsville.  Such  was  the  Confederate  position.  On 
the  other  hand,  Banks,  with  the  main  body  of  his  force 
of  about  twenty  thousand  men,  occupied  Harrisonburg, 
twelve  or  fifteen  miles  in  front  of  General  Jackson. 
Schenck  and  Milroy,  commanding  Fremont's  advance 
of  six  thousand  men,  were  in  front  of  Edward  John- 
son, their  pickets  already  east  of  the  Shenandoah 
mountain,  and  on  the  Harrisonburg  and  Warm  Springs 
turnpike.  Fremont  was  preparing  to  join  them  from 
the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Eailroad  with  nearly  ten  thou- 
sand men,  making  the  total  of  Fremont's  movable 
column  some  fifteen  thousand  ;  so,  with  a  force  of 
about  sixteen  thousand  men  (including  Ewell  and  Ed- 
ward Johnson),  General  Jackson  had  on  his  hands  the 
thirty-five  thousand  under  Banks  and  Fremont.  The 
Warm  Springs  turnpike  afforded  Banks  a  ready  mode 
of  uniting  with  Milroy  and  Schenck,  in  which  case 
Staunton  would  be  an  easy  capture.  Fremont  was 
already  preparing  to  move  in  that  direction.  Jackson 
determined  to  anticipate  such  a  movement,  if  possible, 
by  uniting  his  own  force  to  that  of  Johnson,  and  fall- 


256     LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

ing  upon  Milroy,  while  Ewell  kept  Banks  in  check. 
TJien  lie  Avoiild  join  Ewell,  and  with  all  his  strength 
attack  l]anks.  To  accomplish  this,  Ewell  was  ordered 
to  cross  the  mountain  and  occupy  the  position  Jackson 
had  held  for  ten  days  at  Swift  Eun  Gap,  thus  keep- 
ing up  the  menace  of  Banks's  flank.  As  Ewell  ap- 
proached, Jackson  left  camp  on  the  30th  of  April,  and 
marched  up  the  east  bank  of  the  Shenandoah  to  Port 
Eepublic,  and  on  the  5th  of  May  he  reached  Staunton 
with  his  army,  after  a  toilsome  march  through  the 
mud  and  frequent  quicksands.  The  movement  of  this 
devious  route  mystified  friends  as  Avell  as  foes.  The 
good  people  of  Staunton  were  almost  as  much  aston- 
ished when  General  Jackson  made  his  sudden  appear- 
ance in  their  town  as  if  an  angel  had  dropped  down 
from  the  clouds ;  for,  like  Banks,  they  thought  he  had 
Avithdrawn  from  the  valley  and  disappeared  into  East- 
ern Virginia,  no  one  knew  Avhither.  lie  gave  his 
troops  one  day  to  rest,  and  on  the  next  he  hurried  for- 
ward, united  eTohnson's  force  with  his  own,  drove  in 
the  Federal  pickets  and  foraging  parties,  and  camped 
twenty-five  miles  west  of  Staunton.  On  the  morrow 
(May  8th)  he  pushed  on  to  McDowell,  seized  Sitling- 
ton's  Hill,  which  commanded  the  town  and  enemy's 
camp,  and  made  his  dispositions  to  seize  the  road  in 
rear  of  the  enemy  during  the  night.  But  Milroy  and 
Schenck  had  united,  and  seeing  their  position  unten- 
able, made  a  fierce  attack  in  the  afternoon  to  retake 
the  hill  or  cover  their  retreat.  For  three  or  four  hours 
a  bloody  struggle  took  place  on  the  brow  of  Sit  ling- 
ton's  Hill.  The  Federals,  though  inflicting  severe  loss, 
were  repulsed  at  every  point,  and  at  nightfall  quietly 
withdrew.     This  was  known  as  the  battle  of  McDow- 


THANKSGIVIXG  FOR  VICTORY.  257 

ell.  The  enemy  lit  their  camp-fires,  and  in  the  dark- 
ness evacuated  the  town,  retreating  twenty-four  miles 
to  Franklin,  in  Pendleton  County,  where  they  met 
Fremont  advancing  with  the  main  body  of  his  forces. 
Jackson  followed  to  this  point ;  but,  finding  it  impos- 
sible to  attack  to  advantage,  deemed  it  inadvisable  to 
attempt  anything  further  in  this  difficult  country,  with 
his  ten  thousand  men  against  Fremont's  fourteen  or 
fifteen  thousand.  Screening  completely  his  move- 
ments with  cavalry,  he  turned  back  (May  13tli), 
marched  rapidly  to  within  seventeen  miles  of  Staun- 
ton, then  turned  towards  Harrisonburg,  and  sent  a 
despatch  to  General  Ewell  that  he  was  on  his  way  to 
attack  Banks  with  their  united  forces.  On  the  12th 
of  May  he  wrote  thus  to  his  wife : 

"  Headquarters,  Valley  District,  near  Franklin. 

"  My  precious  darling,  I  telegraphed  3^ou  on  the  9th 
that  God  had  blest  us  with  victory  at  McDowell.  I 
have  followed  the  enemy  to  this  place,  which  is  about 
three  miles  from  Franklin.  The  enemy  has  been  rein- 
forced, and  apparently  designs  making  a  stand  beyond 
Franklin.  I  expect  to  reconnoitre  to-day,  but  do  not 
know  as  yet  whether  I  will  attack  him  thus  reinforced. 
"We  have  divine  service  at  ten  o'clock  to-day  (Monday) 
to  render  thanks  to  Almighty  God  for  having  crowned 
our  arms  with  success,  and  to  implore  His  continued 

favor." 

"Near  Harrisonburg,  May  19tli. 

..."  How  I  do  desire  to  see  our  country  free  and 

at  peace !     It  appears  to  me  that  I  would  appreciate 

home  more  than  I  have  ever  done  before.    Here  I  am 

sitting  in  the  open  air,  writing  on  my  knee  for  w^ant 

17 


258  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

of  a  table.  .  .  .  Yesterday  Dr.  Dabney  preached  an 
excellent  sermon  from  the  text :  '  Come  unto  me,  all 
ye  that  labor  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  Avill  give  you 
rest.'     It  is  a  great  privilege  to  have  him  with  me.'' 

Before  beginning  his  march  on  his  return,  he  grant- 
ed his  soldiers  a  rest  of  half  a  day  on  Monday,  and 
issued  the  following  order : 

''  Soldiers  of  the  Army  of  the  Valley  and  Northwest : 
''  I  congratulate  you  on  your  recent  victory  at  Mc- 
Dowell. I  request  you  to  unite  with  me  this  morn- 
ing in  thanksgiving  to  Almighty  God  for  thus  having 
crowned  your  arms  with  success,  and  in  praying  that 
He  will  continue  to  lead  you  on  from  victory  to  vic- 
tor/, until  our  independence  shall  be  established,  and 
make  us  that  people  whose  God  is  the  Lord.  The 
chaplains  will  hold  divine  service  at  ten  o'clock  a.m. 
this  day  in  their  respective  regiments."  ^ 

The  day  after  the  battle  he  sent  the  following  brief 
announcement  to  the  government  at  Richmond : 

*  A  writer  thus  describes  this  scene:  "Tlierc,  in  tlie  beautiful 
little  valley  of  tlie  South  Branch,  with  the  blue  and  towering 
mountains  covered  with  the  verdure  of  spring,  the  green -sward 
smiling  a  welcome  to  tlie  season  of  flowers,  and  the  bright  sun, 
unclouded,  lending  a  genial,  refreshing  warmth  —  that  army, 
equipped  for  the  stern  conflict  of  war,  bent  in  humble  praise  and 
thanksgiving  for  the  success  vouchsafed  to  their  arms.  While 
this  solemn  ceremony  was  progressing  in  every  regiment,  the  ene- 
my's artillery  was  occasionally  belching  forth  its  leaden  death  ; 
yet  all  unmoved  stood  that  worshipping  army,  acknowledging 
the  supremacy  of  tlie  will  of  llim  who  controls  the  destinies  of 
men  and  nations,  and  chooses  the  weak  things  of  earth  to  con- 
found the  mighty." 


TAKING  THE  RESPONSIBILITY.  259 

"  God  blest  our  arms  with  victory  at  McDowell 
Station  yesterday. 

"  T.  J.  Jackson,  Major-General." 

About  the  time  General  Ewell  received  the  message 
from  General  Jackson  to  join  him  at  Harrisonburg, 
an  order  came  from  General  Johnston  calling  him  with 
his  force  back  to  Gordonsville.  But  Ewell,  knowino- 
what  a  disappointment  it  would  be  to  Jackson  to  thus 
have  all  his  plans  destroyed  by  want  of  his  support, 
determined  to  have  an  interview  with  Jackson  before 
moving  in  any  direction.  He  accordingly  rode  a  day 
and  night  to  see  him,  and  in  the  conference  both  were 
sorely  perplexed  as  to  w^hat  was  their  duty  under  the 
circumstances ;  Jackson  not  questioning  the  right  of 
superior  authority,  and  saying  regretfully :  "  Then 
Providence  denies  me  the  privilege  of  striking  a  de- 
cisive blow  for  my  country,  and  I  must  be  satisfied 
with  the  humble  task  of  hiding  my  little  army  among 
these  mountains  to  w^atch  a  superior  force."  But  Ewell 
proposed  that  if  Jackson,  as  his  ranking  officer,  would 
take  the  responsibility,  he  would  remain  until  the 
condition  of  affairs  could  be  represented  to  General 
Johnston,  which  was  decided  upon,  and  meantime  they 
united  in  a  vigorous  pursuit  of  Banks.  Ashby  had 
followed  close  on  Banks's  heels,  and  now  occupied 
his  outposts  with  constant  skirmishing,  while  he  com- 
pletely screened  Jackson.  The  latter,  having  marched 
rapidly  to  New  Market,  as  if  about  to  follow  the  foe 
to  Strasburg  to  attack  him  there,  suddenly  changed 
his  route,  crossed  the  Massanutton  Mountain  to  Luray, 
where  Ewell  joined  him,  and  poured  down  the  narrow 
Page  Yalley  by  forced  marches  towards  Front  Ptoyal. 


260     I^Il'E  Of  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

The  Confederates  marched  from  Franldin  to  Front 
Eoyal,  a  distance  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles, 
by  Jackson's  route,  in  ten  days,  and  arrived  at  the 
latter  place  on  the  23d  of  May.  Front  Royal  was 
held  by  about  one  thousand  Federals  under  Colonel 
Kenly,  who  had  charge  of  large  stores,  and  of  the 
railroad  and  the  important  railroad  bridges  on  the 
Shenandoah.  This  force  covered  the  flank  and  rear 
of  Banks's  position  at  Strasburg.  Kenl}^  was  taken 
by  surprise,  but  after  making  what  resistance  he  could, 
was  forced  across  the  bridges  which  he  vainly  attempt- 
ed to  destroy,  and  fled  to  Winchester.  Jackson,  too  im- 
patient to  wait  for  his  tired  infantry,  placed  himself  at 
the  head  of  a  few  companies  of  cavalry,  and  pushed 
after  the  foe,  whom  he  overtook,  attacked,  and  dis- 
persed so  effectually,  that  of  those  who  were  not  killed 
or  wounded,  the  greater  part  were  taken  prisoners. 

Exhausted  nature  could  do  no  more.  The  weary 
and  march-worn  army  sank  down  to  rest.  General 
Banks,  amazed  at  this  irruption,  by  which  his  flank  was 
turned  and  his  communications  threatened,  began  dur- 
ing the  night  a  precipitate  retreat  from  Strasburg  to 
Winchester.  Jackson  anticipates  this,  and  pressed  on 
the  next  morning  to  Middletown,  a  village  between 
Strasburg  and  Winchester,  to  find  the  road  filled  with 
Federal  trains  and  troops.  Capturing  or  scattering 
these  in  every  direction,  he  followed  on  after  the  main 
body,  which  had  already  passed  him,  towards  Winches- 
ter, lie  overtook  them  in  the  afternoon  —  pushed 
Banks's  rear-guard  before  him  all  night,  giving  the 
main  body  of  his  troo})s  only  one  hour  to  rest  upon 
their  arms.  The  advance  regiment,  under  Colonel 
Baylor,  Avere  not  allowed  to  lie  down  at  all,  while  their 


BANKS  DRIVEN  ACROSS  THE  POTOMAC.      261 

vimlant  and  untirino:  commander  stood  sentinel  him- 
self  at  the  liead  of  the  column,  listening  to  every  sound 
from  the  front.  At  dawn,  he  gave  in  an  undertone 
the  command,  "  Forward  !  March !"  wdiich  w^as  passed 
down  the  command,  and  by  daylight  on  the  25th  of 
May  he  reached  Winchester  to  find  the  Federal  forces 
drawn  up  across  the  approaches  to  the  town  from  the 
south  and  southeast.  A  vigorous  attack  was  at  once 
made  by  the  Confederates,  which  for  a  short  time  was 
bravely  resisted,  but  the  Federal  lines  soon  began  to 
yield,  and,  seeing  himself  about  to  be  overwhelmed, 
Banks  retreated  through  Winchester.  General  Jack- 
son pressed  closely,  and  the  Federals  emerged  from 
the  town  a  mass  of  disorganized  fugitives,  making 
their  way  with  all  speed  towards  the  Potomac.  See- 
ing the  enemy  break,  Jackson  set  spurs  to  his  horse, 
and,  bounding  upon  the  crest  of  a  hill,  shouted  to  his 
men :  ''  Forward  !  After  the  enemy  !"  and  with  a  face 
aflame  with  animation  and  triumph,  he  galloped 
amidst  the  foremost  pursuers.  The  Confederate  in- 
fantry foUoAved  for  several  miles,  capturing  a  large 
number  of  prisoners,  and  had  the  cavalry  been  as  effi- 
cient, but  few  of  Banks's  troops  would  have  escaped. 
The  troopers  who  proved  derelict  at  this  crisis  had 
yielded  to  the  temptation  of  the  rich  spoils  they  had 
captured  from  the  enemy,  and,  as  General  Jackson 
expressed  it,  ^'.forgetful  of  their  high  trust  as  the  ad- 
vance-guard of  a  pursuing  army,  deserted  their  colors 
and  abandoned  themselves  to  pillage  to  such  an  ex- 
tent as  to  make  it  necessary  for  the  gallant  Ashby  to 
discontinue  further  pursuit."  This  was  a  painful  dis- 
appointment to  General  Jackson,  and  as  he  w^atched 
the  flight  of  the  multitude  of  fugitives,  and  saw^  the 


262     LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

golden  opportunity  for  cavalry  to  make  the  victor}^ 
complete,  he  exclaimed  with  bitter  regret :  ''  Oh  that 
my  cavalry  were  in  place !  Xever  was  there  such  a 
chance  for  cavalry  I''  In  his  official  report  he  says : 
"Kever  have  I  seen  an  opportunity  Avhen  it  was  in 
the  power  of  cavalry  to  reap  a  richer  harvest  of  the 
fruits  of  victory  I'' 

Banks  halted  on  the  north  side  of  the  Potomac,  and 
Jackson  allowed  his  exhausted  men  to  rest  at  Win- 
chester. In  forty-eight  hours  the  enemy  had  been 
driven  between  fifty  and  sixty  miles,  from  Front  Eoyal 
and  Strasbui-g  to  the  Potomac,  w^ith  the  loss  of  more 
than  one  third  of  his  entire  strength.  His  army  had 
crossed  that  river  a  disorganized  mass.  Hundreds  of 
wagons  had  been  abandoned  or  burned.  An  immense 
quantity  of  quartermaster,  commissary,  medical,  and 
ordnance  stores  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  victor. 
These  stores  were  estimated  by  the  Confederate  quar- 
termaster as  worth  $300,000,  and  proved  of  inesti- 
mable value  to  the  Confederacy.  Some  twenty-three 
hundred  prisoners  were  taken  to  the  rear  when  Gen- 
eral Jackson  fell  back,  besides  seven  hundred  and  fifty 
wounded,  sick,  paroled,  and  left  in  the  hospitals  at 
Winchester  and  Strasburg,  making  a  total  of  about 
three  thousand  and  fifty.  The  victory  was  glorious, 
even  if  the  weary  and  march-Avorn  command  had  not 
achieved  all  that  their  tireless  and  indomitable  lead- 
er thought  possible.  Winchester,  having  for  several 
months  been  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  the  joy  of  the 
inhabitants  knew  no  bounds  when  they  caught  sight 
of  the  victorious  Confederates,  whom  they  welcomed 
as  their  deliverers  and  greeted  with  the  wildest  enthu- 
siasm.   Universal  rejoicing  was  manifested  by  all  ages 


WHAT  HAD  BEEX  DONE  IX  FOUR  WEEKS.     263 

and  sexes.  That  historic  old  town  and  its  beautiful 
environs  presented,  by  the  afternoon  of  May  25th,  an 
aspect  of  quiet  and  repose  strangely  in  contrast  with 
the  storm}^  scenes  of  the  morning. 

Mondav,  the  day  after  the  en fj^a elements  around 
Winchester,  was  spent,  according  to  General  Jack- 
son's custom,  in  religious  services  and  thanksgiving, 
the  following  general  order  being  issued  by  him  on 
the  morning  of  that  day : 

"  Within  four  weeks  this  army  has  made  long  and 
rapid  marches,  fought  six  combats  and  two  battles — 
signally  defeating  the  enemy  in  each  one — capturing 
several  stands  of  colors  and  pieces  of  artillery,  with 
numerous  prisoners,  and  vast  medical,  ordnance,  and 
army  stores ;  and,  finalh",  driven  the  boastful  host 
which  was  ravaging  our  beautiful  country  into  utter 
rout.  The  general  commanding  would  warmly  ex- 
press to  the  officers  and  men  under  his  command  his 
joy  in  their  achievements,  and  his  thanks  for  their  brill- 
iant gallantry  in  action  and  their  patient  obedience 
under  the  hardships  of  forced  marches,  often  more 
painful  to  the  brave  soldier  than  the  dangers  of  battle. 
The  explanation  of  the  severe  exertions  to  which  the 
commanding  general  called  the  army,  which  Avere  en- 
dured by  them  with  such  cheerful  confidence  in  him,  is 
now  given  in  the  victory  of  yesterday.  He  receives 
this  proof  of  their  confidence  in  the  past  with  pride 
and  gratitude,  and  asks  only  a  similar  confidence  in 
the  future.  But  his  chief  duty  to-day,  and  that  of  the 
army,  is  to  recognize  devoutly  the  hand  of  a  protecting 
Providence  in  the  brilliant  successes  of  the  last  three 
days — which  have  given  us  the  results  of  a  great  vie- 


26i  LIFE   OF  GEXERAL   THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

tory  without  great  losses — and  to  make  the  oblation  of 
our  thanks  to  God  for  His  mercies  to  us  and  our  coun- 
try in  heartfelt  acts  of  religious  worship.  For  this  pur- 
pose the  troops  wiJl  remain  in  camp  to-day,  suspending 
as  far  as  possible  all  military  exercises,  and  the  chap- 
lains of  regiments  will  hold  divine  service  in  their  sev- 
eral charges  at  four  ox-lock  r.M." 

The  next  day  was  devoted  to  rest ;  and  on  the  third 
he  moved  on  again  towards  Harper's  Ferry,  in  order, 
by  the  most  energetic  diversions  possible,  to  draw 
away  troops  from  Richmond. 

The  total  rout  of  Banks  at  AYinchester  created  such 
a  panic  in  Washington  that  President  Lincoln  sent  a 
despatch  to  McDowell  to  lay  aside  for  the  present  his 
movement  upon  Richmond,  and  put  twenty  thousand 
men  in  motion  at  once  for  the  Shenandoah,  to  meet 
the  forces  of  Jackson  and  Ewell.  And  in  a  despatch 
to  McClellan,  of  the  25th  of  May,  he  says  : 

"Banks  ran  a  race  with  them,  beating  them  into 
Winchester  yesterday  evening.  This  morning  a  battle 
ensued  between  the  two  forces,  in  Avhich  Banks  was 
beaten  back  in  full  retreat  towards  Martinsburg,  and 
probably  is  broken  up  in  a  total  rout." 

A  favorite  aphorism  of  General  Jackson's  was: 
"  Kever  take  counsel  of  your  fears."  While  President 
Lincoln  was  thus  "taking  counsel  of  his  fears"  and 
promptly  ordering  troops  from  all  directions  to  over- 
whelm Jackson,  the  latter  Avas  resting  from  the  fa- 
tigues of  his  forced  marches  at  AVinch ester.  His  loss 
during  the  Avliole  expedition  was  four  hundred  men. 


REJOICINGS  IN  WINCHESTER.  265 

The  entire  strength  of  his  force  was  not  over  fifteen 
thousand  men.  All  the  energy  of  a  great  government 
was  now  expended  in  gathering  about  him  a  force  of 
between  fifty-five  and  sixty  thousand  men.  Fremont, 
who  had  been  quietly  resting  at  Franklin  while  Gen- 
eral Jackson  was  making  forced  marches  after  Banks, 
was  startled  by  the  tidings  of  the  Federal  rout,  as  he 
himself  was  ordered  by  the  President  to  take  up  his 
march,  and  come  to  the  rescue  in  saving  the  national 
capital  from  the  grasp  of  the  redoubtable  Confederate 
leader.  On  the  26th  of  May  General  Jackson  wrote 
thus  to  his  wife  from  Winchester : 

"My  precious  darling,  an  ever -kind  Providence 
blest  us  with'  success  at  Front  Koyal  on  Friday,  be- 
tween Strasburg  and  Winchester  on  Saturday,  and 
here  with  a  successful  engagement  on  yesterday.  I 
do  not  remember  having  ever  seen  such  rejoicing  as 
was  manifested  by  the  people  of  Winchester  as  our 
army  yesterday  passed  through  the  town  in  pursuit  of 
the  enenw.  The  people  seemed  nearly  frantic  with 
joy;  indeed,  it  would  be  almost  impossible  to  describe 
their  manifestations  of  rejoicing  and  gratitude.  Our 
entrance  into  Winchester  was  one  of  the  most  stirring 
scenes  of  my  life.  The  town  is  much  improved  in 
loyalty  to  our  cause.  Your  friends  greatly  desired  to 
see  you  with  me.  Last  night  I  called  to  see  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Graham,  who  were  very  kind.  .  .  .  Time  forbids 
a  longer  letter,  but  it  does  not  forbid  my  loving  my 
esjpositar 


CHAPTEE  XIY. 

CROSS   KEYS  AXD   PORT   REPUBLIC— 1862. 

Aftek  liis  victory  at  Winchester,  General  Jackson 
despatched  a  trusted  messenger  to  Richmond  to  ask 
for  reinforcements,  and  even  that  he  shoukl  he  given 
a  force  sufficient  to  march  on  Washington,  beheving 
that  this  Avoukl  be  the  surest  way  to  break  the  for- 
midable lines  which  the  enemy  were  now  drawing 
round  the  Confederate  capital.  "  Tell  them,"  he  said, 
"  that  I  have  but  fifteen  thousand  effective  men.  If 
the  present  opening  is  improved,  as  it  should  be,  I 
must  have  forty  thousand."  But  the  government  de- 
cided that  it  would  be  unsafe  to  withdraw  any  troops 
from  the  defence  of  Eichmond,  but  directed  him  to 
carry  out  his  plan  to  the  extent  of  making  a  feint  of 
an  invasion  of  Maryland,  and  of  a  move  upon  Wash- 
ington, and  to  retreat  when  he  became  too  much  en- 
dangered  by  overwhelming  numbers.  lie  marched  to 
Harper's  Ferry,  closely  Avatching  the  approach  of  the 
enemy,  and  concluded  on  the  30th  of  May  that  it  was 
time  to  withdraw  his  small  army  if  he  would  pass 
between  the  converging  armies  of  Fremont  and  Mc- 
Dowell. By  his  march  to  Harper's  Ferry  he  had  in- 
tensified the  panic  at  Washington,  but  he  had  now 
carried  out  his  instructions  to  the  extreme  point  con- 
sistent with  safety. 

The  movements  of  the  kirge  bodies  of  troops  which 


JACKSON   PASSES  BETWEEN  TWO   ARMIES.  267 

President  Lincoln  had  been  for  some  days  urging  with 
such  haste  towards  his  rear,  now  demanded  his  atten- 
tion. Shields  was  pouring  down  from  the  mountain- 
pass  to  Front  Koyal  to  cut  him  off.  The  combined 
forces  of  McDowell  and  Fremont,  Avhich  were  nearly 
three  times  that  of  the  Confederates,  were  hastening 
from  opposite  directions  to  intercept  his  retreat ;  and 
once  at  Strasburg,  the  way  would  be  barred.  From 
the  Potomac  side  the  combined  forces  of  Banks  and 
Saxton  amounted  to  fourteen  thousand  men,  that 
were  ready  to  close  in  on  his  retreat.  In  this  peril- 
ous situation,  Jackson  decided  to  occupy  Strasburg 
in  advance,  and  to  pass  swiftly  between  the  two 
principal  armies  gathering  for  his  destruction.  It 
was  a  case  in  which  supreme  audacity  was  the  most 
consummate  skill.  He  lost  no  time  in  escaping 
from  the  dangers  that  threatened  him — sending  for- 
w^ard  his  twenty -three  hundred  prisoners  under  a 
guard ;  then  his  long  trains,  many  loaded  with  capt- 
ured stores,  followed  by  his  whole  army  of  scarcely 
fifteen  thousand  men.  The  march  Avas  made  without 
molestation,  the  main  body  of  his  troops  camping  at 
Strasburo'  on  the  nio;ht  of  the  31st.  Of  these  the 
larger  part  had  marched  twenty-five  miles  the  day 
before,  and  the  rear-guard,  under  General  Winder, 
which  had  kept  up  a  running  skirmish  with  the 
enemy  between  Harper's  Ferry  and  AYinchester,  had 
marched  thirty-five  miles.  Thus,  in  a  single  day, 
Jackson  had  put  thirty  miles  between  himself  and  the 
slow  columns  of  Saxton  and  Banks,  and  took  position 
directly  between  the  armies  of  Fremont  and  McDow- 
ell, which  had  been  sent  to  crush  him.  Fremont  had 
orders  from  Mr.  Lincoln  to  enter  Strasburg  that  after- 


268     LIFE  OF  GEXERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

noon,  but  be  stopped  several  miles  sbort  of  tbe  town, 
bindered  probably  by  a  violent  rain-storm ;  but,  wbat- 
ever  tbe  cause,  tbe  result  was  tbe  loss  of  all  oppor- 
tunity to  cut  otf  Jackson's  retreat. 

Tbe  next  morning  Fremont  made  a  feeble  effort  to 
advance,  but  evidently  besitated  to  bring  down  tbe 
wbole  of  Jackson's  force  on  bimself,  wliile  uncertain 
tbat  McDowell  was  in  supporting  distance.  Tbe  lat- 
ter, on  coming  up,  said  be  found  ''  it  was  too  late  to 
get  abead  of  Jackson  tben."  Sbields  was  sent  in  pur- 
suit in  anotber  direction  to  "bead  off"  Jackson,  but 
tbe  latter  bad  gained  a  day's  start,  and  witb  bis  entire 
force  continued  to  retreat  towards  Harrisonburg. 

Between  Friday  morning  (wben  Jackson  was  in 
front  of  Harper's  Ferry)  and  Sunday  nigbt  be  bad 
marcbed  a  distance  of  between  fifty  and  sixty  miles, 
tbougb  encumbered  witb  prisoners  and  captured 
stores,  and  reacbed  Strasburg  before  eitber  of  bis  ad- 
versaries, baving  passed  safely  between  tbem,  while  be 
beld  Fremont  at  bay  by  a  sbow  of  force,  and  blinded 
and  bewildered  McDowell  b}^  tbe  rapidity  of  bis  move- 
ments. In  order  to  prevent  tbe  pursuit  of  Sbields  by 
tbe  Luray  Valley,  and  bis  "  beading  off,"  Jackson  de- 
spatcbed  a  detacbment  of  cavalry  to  burn  tbe  tbree 
bridges  over  tbe  Soutb  Fork  of  tbe  Sbenandoab,  wbicb 
was  effected  vritbout  opposition.  Having  taken  tbis 
measure  to  free  bimself  for  tbe  time  from  one  of  bis 
pursuers,  be  fell  back  more  leisurely  before  tbe  otber. 

On  Monday  (June  2)  be  retreated  to  Mount  Jack- 
son. On  tbis  day  be  wrote  bis  wife  these  few  hurried 
lines : 

"  I  am  again  retiring  before  tbe  enemy.     They  en- 


MOVES   TOWARDS  PORT   REPUBLIC.  269 

deavored  to  ^et  in  my  rear  by  moving  on  both  flanks 
of  my  gallant  army,  but  our  God  has  been  my  guide 
and  saN^ed  me  f roni  their  grasp.  You  must  not  expect 
long  letters  from  me  in  such  busy  times  as  these,  but 
ah\^ays  believe  that  your  husband  never  forgets  his 
little  darhng.'' 

On  the  3d  he  fell  back  to  Is'ew  Market.  Ashby, 
who  had  received  his  commission  as  brigadier-general 
at  Winchester  a  few  days  before,  was  now  placed  in 
command  of  all  the  cavalry,  and  to  him  was  commit- 
ted the  duty  of  protecting  the  rear.  The  Confederates 
were  closely  followed  by  Fremont's  advance,  with 
whom  Ashby  constantly  skirmished,  checking  them 
whenever  they  came  too  near;  and  by  burning  the 
bridge  over  which  the  Confederates  crossed,  their  ad- 
vanc'e  was  held  back  for  a  day.  Jackson  continued 
his  retreat,  and  on  the  5th  reached  Harrisonburg. 

Here  he  changed  his  line  of  march,  and,  leaving  the 
valley  turnpike,  moved  in  the  direction  of  Port  Ee- 
public  and  Brown's  Gap.  His  first  care  was  to  pre- 
vent a  union  of  the  forces  of  Fremont  and  Shields,  for 
which  he  burned  the  only  bridge  over  the  Shenandoah 
by  which  they  could  cross,  while  he  held  the  only 
readv  means  of  communication  between  them,  the 
bridge  at  Port  Ptepubhc.  By  destroying  the  other 
bridges  he  had  placed  a  barrier  between  his  two  pur- 
suers, and  noAV  he  occupied  the  point  where  their  two 
routes  converged.  Xo  farther  to  the  rear  would  the 
Shenandoah  serve  as  a  barrier  to  their  junction,  for 
south  of  Port  Kepublic  its  head-waters  are  easily  ford- 
able.  General  Jackson  sent  his  sick  and  wounded  to 
Staunton,  having  overcome  what  was  thought  an  in- 


270     LIFE  OF  GENERAL  TUOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

surmountable  obstacle  in  having  a  ferry  constructed 
to  convey  them  over  the  swollen  river. 

On  the  Gth  Ashby  was  attacked  by  a  body  of  Fre- 
mont's cavalry,  under  command  of  Colonel  Sir  Perc}^ 
^yndham.  an  English  officer  who  had  taken  service 
in  the  Union  army,  and  now  rushed  into  the  fray, 
without  sufficient  knowledge  of  the  situation,  and  was 
defeated  and  taken  prisoner  with  sixty-three  of  his 
men.  As  soon  as  the  news  of  his  re23ulse  was  received 
at  Fremont's  headquarters,  a  strong  force  was  ordered 
forward  to  hold  the  farther  end  of  the  town  and  the 
approaches  on  that  side.  Ashby,  in  disposing  his  troops 
to  meet  this  formidable  advance,  seemed  to  the  spec- 
tators to  be  instinct  with  unwonted  animation  and 
genius.  A  fierce  combat  ensued,  in  which  his  horse 
fell;  but  extricating  himself,  and  springing  to  his  feet, 
he  saw  his  men  Avavering,  and  shouted,  "  Charge,  men  I 
for  God's  sake  charge!"  and  waved  his  sword,  when  a 
bullet  pierced  him  full  in  the  breast,  and  he  fell  dead. 
The  regiment  took  up  the  command  of  their  dying 
general  and  rushed  upon  the  enemy,  pressing  them 
back,  and  pouring  volleys  into  them  until  they  were 
out  of  musket  range. 

The  interest  attaching  to  this  fight  between  Jack- 
son's rear-guard  and  Fremont's  advance  does  not 
grow  mainly  out  of  the  engagement  itself,  which  was 
comparatively  unimportant,  but  out  of  the  fact  that 
it  was  the  occasion  of  the  fall  of  General  Turner 
Ashby,  who  was  truly  the  ideal  of  a  soldier  in  whom 
the  qualities  that  excite  admiration  were  united  to 
those  that  win  affection  and  devotion.  Insensible  to 
danger,  the  more  daring  an  enter])rise  the  greater  was 
its   attraction   for   him.     With   such   qualities   were 


DEATH  OF  GEXERAL  ASHBY.  271 

united  the  utmost  generosity  and  unselfishness ;  a 
dehcacy  of  sentiment  and  feehng  hke  a  woman's  ;  and 
a  respect  for  the  rights  of  others  Avhich  permitted 
^yithin  tlie  hmits  of  his  authority  no  outrage  on 
friend  or  foe.     Says  General  Jackson  in  his  report : 

"  An  oiRcial  report  is  not  an  appropriate  place  for 
more  than  a  passing  notice  of  the  distinguished  dead ; 
but  the  close  relation  which  General  Ashby  bore  to 
my  command  for  most  of  the  previous  twelve  months 
will  justify  me  in  saying  that,  as  a  partisan  officer,  I 
never  knew  his  superior.  His  daring  was  proverbial, 
his  powers  of  endul^ance  almost  incredible,  his  tone  of 
character  heroic,  and  his  sagacity  almost  intuitive  in 
divining  the  purposes  and  movements  of  the  enemy „" 

After  the  remains  of  the  young  hero  had  been  pre- 
pared for  burial  in  Port  Eepublic,  General  Jackson 
came  to  the  room  and  requested  to  see  them.  He 
was  admitted  alone,  and  after  remaining  for  a  time 
in  silent  communion  w4th  the  dead,  came  forth  with 
a  countenance  of  unusual  solemnity  and  elevation. 
Ashby 's  widowed  mother  lived  in  Fauquier,  but  her 
home  being  now  within  the  Federal  lines,  she  was  de- 
nied the  comfort  of  receiving  the  remains  of  this,  her 
second  gallant  son  who  fell  in  defence  of  his  country. 
He  w^as  taken  to  Charlottesville  for  temporary  inter- 
ment. Slowly  and  sadly  the  funeral  cortege  passed 
on  its  way  through  that  exquisitely  beautiful  valley. 
The  storm  of  battle  even  seemed  to  have  ceased  out 
of  respect  for  the  dead.  An  escort  of  the  brave  com- 
rades of  Ashby,  with  bowed  heads  and  solemn  mien, 
their  arms  reversed,  accompanied  the  hearse.     Behind 


272     LIFE  OF  GEXERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

it  came  the  chieftain's  horse  and  trappings,  led  by  his 
negro  servant,  whose  grief  was  most  demonstrative. 
His  personal  staff  next  followed.  The  whole,  as  it 
wound  alono'  the  country  road  in  the  broad  sunlio:ht 
of  a  perfect  summer  day,  seemed  to  recall  some  rite  of 
ancient  chivalry  ;  and  surely  no  braver,  truer  knight 
was  ever  borne  to  a  glorious  tomb.  After  the  war 
his  remains  were  removed  aud  placed  beside  those  of 
his  brother.  Captain  Eichard  Ashby,  in  the  "  Stone- 
wall Cemetery  "  at  Winchester. 

"  Brief,  brave,  and  glorious  was  his  young  career ; 

His  mourners  were  two  hosts,  liis  friends  and  foes. 
And  fitly  may  the  stranger,  lingering  here, 

Pray  for  his  gallant  spirit's  bright  repose, 

For  he  was  Freedom's  champion  ;  one  of  those, 
The  few  in  number,  who  had  not  o'erstept 

The  charter  to  chastise  which  she  bestows 
On  such  as  wield  her  weapons.     He  had  kept 
The  whiteness  of  his  soul,  aud  tlius  men  o'er  him  wept." 

And  now  for  two  days — the  6th  and  7th  of  June^ 
Jackson's  army  enjoyed  a  sorely  needed  rest.  In  the 
twenty -four  days  that  had  intervened  between  the 
time  that  he  had  withdrawn  from  Fremont's  front 
at  Franklin  and  his  arrival  at  Port  Republic,  it  had 
ma^rched  three  hundred  miles,  besides  driving  Banks 
over  the  Potomac.  Lying  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Shenandoah,  along  Mill  Creek,  a  few  miles  in  front  of 
Port  liepublic,  these  exhausted  and  march-worn  men 
refreshed  themselves,  and  at  the  end  of  two  days  were 
as  ready  as  ever  for  battle. 

Meantime  Jackson,  having  prevented  the  junction 
of  his  two  opponents  by  burning  the  bridges  across 
the  South  Foi'k  of  the  Shenandoah,  below  Port  Re- 


BATTLE  OF  PORT  REPUBLIC.  2Y3 

public,  was  preparing  to  take  advantage  of  their  en- 
forced separation.  He  adapted  his  strategy  to  the 
character  of  the  country  and  the  rivers.  Fremont 
was  equal  to  Jackson  in  force,  Shields  was  inferior. 
Together  thev  largely  outnumbered  him.  His  effec- 
tive force  at  this  time  could  not  have  exceeded  thir- 
teen thousand  men,  and  he  determined  to  retreat  no 
farther,  but  to  hght  them  in  detail  while  separated. 
To  retire  towards  Brown's  Gap  was  to  allow  his 
enemies  to  unite.  To  concentrate  on  the  east  side  at 
once  against  Shields  as  the  weaker,  and  burn  the 
bridge  to  keep  Fremont  back,  was  to  run  the  risk  of 
having  the  battle-field  in  the  plain  on  the  eastern  side 
commanded  by  Fremont's  guns,  Avhich  would  then 
crown  the  heights  on  the  left  bank.  While  it  might 
not  thus  entirely  paralyze  Fremont  in  the  struggle 
with  Shields,  it  Avould  certainly  prevent  Jackson  from 
returning  in  case  of  success  to  attack  Fremont.  The 
Confederate  commander  therefore  took  the  other 
plan  remaining  to  him,  and,  having  sent  off  his  prison- 
ers to  the  railroad  at  Waynesboro'  and  removed  his 
trains  to  Port  Republic,  placed  his  army  in  position 
on  the  north  side  of  the  river ;  General  Ewell's  divi- 
sion at  Cross  Keys,  half-way  on  the  road  to  Harrison- 
burg, and  General  Winder's  division  on  the  heights 
above  the  bridge  along  the  river.  Here  artillery  was 
at  hand  to  command  the  town  and  bridge  and  plain 
by  which  Shields  must  approach.  Fremont  was  well 
closed  up,  and  his  vigorous  pursuit  of  the  last  few 
days  indicated  a  prompt  attack  without  waiting  for 
the  co-operation  of  Shields.  The  latter  was  not  so 
well  up  as  Fremont,  but  his  advance  came  within  six 
miles  of  Port  Republic  on  Saturday  evening,  June 
18 


274      LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

7th.  Jackson  thus  took  a  position  where  he  might 
receive  the  attack  of  Fremont,  while  it  was  in  the 
power  of  a  small  part  of  his  force  to  hold  Shields  in 
check.  His  position,  if  the  latter  attempted  to  attack 
in  aid  of  Fremont,  was  impregnable.  The  Federal 
General  Tyler  thought  it  ''one  to  defy  an  army  of 
fifty  thousand  men."  Defeat  by  Fremont  would 
have  rendered  Jackson  s  condition  precarious,  but  this 
contingency  he  did  not  anticipate.  His  sagacity  was 
made  manifest,  and  his  strategy  approved,  by  the 
movements  of  his  adversaries.  Fremont  had  failed  to 
seize  the  Confederate  line  of  retreat  at  Strasburg 
when  it  was  possible,  and  had  permitted  Jackson, 
encumbered  Avith  prisoners,  to  pass  by  him  unmo- 
lested. His  pursuit  of  the  retreating  Confederates 
had  emboldened  him,  and  now,  having  followed  them 
over  fifty  miles  farther,  he  was  ready  to  attack  in 
a  chosen  position  the  army  Avhich  he  had  hesitated 
to  fight  when  hampered  by  its  trains  and  captures. 
Then  McDowell  was  within  reach  to  aid ;  now  an  im- 
passable river  prevented  all  co-operation.  Shields,  on 
the  other  hand,  condemned  by  the  burning  of  the 
bridges  to  make  his  toilsome  Avay  along  the  muddy 
roads  of  the  Luray  A'alley,  had  halted  at  Columbia, 
and  sent  forward  his  advance  brigades  to  harass  Jack- 
son's flank,  with  orders  to  go  as  far  as  AVaynesboro, 
and  break  the  railroad.  The  mass  of  Shields's  forces 
were  known  to  be  miles  away,  and  Jackson's  cavalry 
scouts  were  expected  to  give  timely  warning  of  his 
api)roach.  Jackson  had  placed  his  headquarters  on 
the  southwestern  outskirts  of  the  village. 

Sunday  morning,  June  8th,  was  bright  w^ith  all  the 
glory  of  summer  in  the  Valley  of  the  Shenandoah. 


BATTLE  OF  PORT  REPUBLIC.  275 

Quiet  reigned  tliroughout  the  Confederate  camp,  and 
men  and  animals  alike  seemed  to  enjoy  the  rest, 
which  for  a  day  or  two  had  followed  the  excessive 
toils  and  marches  of  the  campaign.  Jackson  was  just 
mounting  his  horse  to  ride  to  the  front,  when  a  bold 
and  unexpected  dash  by  the  enemy  opened  the  fight 
at  Port  Republic  itself,  and  for  a  few  moments  threat- 
ened such  disaster  that  Shields  sent  a  despatch  to  Fre- 
mont saying,  ''  I  think  Jackson  is  caught  this  time." 

Jackson,  followed  by  his  staff,  rode  rapidly  through 
the  town  towards  the  bridge  and  his  troops  stationed 
on  the  hills  around  it.  The  enemy  boldly  crossed  the 
bridge,  and  rode  so  quickly  into  the  middle  of  the 
town  as  to  intercept  the  two  hindmost  members  of 
Jackson's  staff,  and  make  them  prisoners;  but  both 
were  soon  released,  one  by  being  left  in  town  when 
the  Federals  subsequently  retreated,  and  the  other 
by  capturing  the  soldier  in  whose  care  he  was  placed 
and  bringing  him  back  as  a  prisoner.  The  enemy 
promptly  placed  one  piece  of  artillery  at  the  bridge, 
so  as  to  command  the  approaches  to  it,  and  with 
another  piece  prepared  to  attack  Jackson's  train 
lying  just  outside  of  the  town.  Their  unexpected  ap- 
proach threw  teamsters  and  camp-followers  into  great 
confusion.  But  soon  a  gun  from  a  Confederate  bat- 
tery was  brought  and  placed  so  as  to  rake  the  main 
street  of  the  village,  and  a  charge  was  poured  into  the 
rear  column  of  Federal  troopers,  and  their  movement 
was  checked.  Meantime  Jackson  had  reached  his  troops 
nearest  the  bridge,  and  ordered  three  batteries  in- 
stantly to  the  brow  of  the  terrace  overlooking  the 
river.  Taliaferro's  brigade,  of  Winder's  division,  was 
the  nearest  infantry.     General   Taliaferro  had  tliem 


276  LIFE    OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

drawn  up  for  inspection.  Ordering  tlieni  forward, 
Jackson  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  the  leading 
regiment,  and  the  first  of  Poague's  guns  that  was  ready, 
and  rushed  at  a  double-quick  towards  the  bridge.  At 
the  word  from  Jackson,  Poague  fired  a  charge  which 
disconcerted  the  enemy,  then  followed  a  volley  from 
the  infantry,  and  an  immediate  charge  with  the  bay- 
onet. In  a  moment  the  Federal  gunners  were  dow^n, 
their  gun  was  captured,  and  the  bridge  was  again  in 
Jackson's  possession.  The  Confederates  lost  two  men 
wounded,  and  the  Federals  their  chance  of  destroying 
the  bridge.  Carroll  (the  Federal  colonel),  seeing  him- 
self attacked  from  both  ends  of  the  village,  rode  out 
of  it  as  rapidly  as  he  entered  it,  and  in  his  flight  aban- 
doned another  piece  of  artillery  to  the  Confederates. 
He  soon  met  his  infantry  coming  to  his  support; 
but  the  three  Confederate  batteries  w^ere  now  in  posi- 
tion on  the  bluff  on  the  north  side,  and  they  so  rained 
fire  on  all  the  approaches  to  the  town  and  bridge 
from  the  south  and  east  side  that  any  further  attempt 
was  futile,  and  Carroll's  whole  force  was  obliged  to  re- 
treat. To  avoid  the  galling  fire  they  moved  some 
distance  towards  the  mountain  before  turning  down 
the  river.  The  Confederate  batteries  followed  on  the 
bluff,  and  continued  to  shell  them  until  they  were  en- 
tirely out  of  range,  some  two  and  a  half  miles  below. 
The  affair  had  only  occupied  about  one  hour,  and  quiet 
once  more  succeeded  to  the  noise  of  battle. 

To  guard  against  any  repetition  of  this  attack, 
Jackson  now  stationed  Taliaferro's  brigade  in  the  vil- 
lage to  hold  the  fords  of  South  River,  and  placed  the 
Stonew^all  Brigade  on  the  north  side  of  the  main 
river,  to  observe  the  enemy  and  impede  by  artillery 


BATTLE  OF  CROSS  KEYS.  277 

any  renewed  advance.  The  remainder  of  Winder's 
division  Avas  held  in  reserve  to  assist  Ewell,  if  need  be. 
While  these  arrangements  were  being  made,  the  battle 
opened  along  EwelFs  front. 

On  Saturday  evening,  Fremont  had  made  a  recon- 
noissance,  and  having  found  the  Confederates  in  force 
near  Cross  Keys,  gave  orders  for  a  general  advance 
the  next  morning.  General  Ewell  selected  for  his 
position  one  of  the  ridges  with  which  the  comitry  is 
filled,  the  Federals  occupying  a  lower  parallel  ridge. 
Fremont  disposed  his  forces  for  attack.  Blenker's 
division,  his  left  wing,  was  placed  opposite  Trimble. 
For  a  time  a  spirited  lire  was  maintained  between  the 
opposing  batteries,  ^vhen  the  infantry  was  brought 
into  play.  General  Trimble's  brigade  met  the  first 
assault,  which  it  gallantly  repulsed,  and  drove  down 
the  hill  and  back  into  the  woods  from  which  they 
advanced.  The  Confederates  awaited  another  attack, 
but  the  repulse  had  been  too  bloody  to  invite  a  speedy 
renewal.  Trimble  waited  a  short  time,  and,  perceiving 
no  indications  of  a  new  advance,  determined  to  move 
against  the  enemy.  Several  other  regiments  joined  him 
eii  Toide^  and  after  a  short  and  sharp  struggle  the 
Federals  were  forced  to  yield ;  the  artillery  limbered 
up  and  retired ;  and  in  a  few  minutes  their  Avhole  left 
wing  was  retreating  towards  the  position  which  it  held 
before  the  opening  of  the  battle.  Meantime,  Milroy 
had  advanced  against  the  Confederate  centre.  A 
fierce  artillery  duel  was  here  the  principal  feature  of 
the  contest.  The  Confederate  batteries  were  in  good 
position,  and,  in  spite  of  the  loss  of  men  and  horses 
in  some  of  them,  kept  up  so  spirited  a  fire  that  no 
serious  attempt  was  made  on  this  part  of  the  line.     The 


27S     LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

Federals  drove  in  the  Confederate  skirmishers  and  felt 
the  lines  behind  them,  but  there  was  no  real  attack. 
Thus,  at  the  centre  of  the  contending  armies,  the 
hours  23assed  in  which  the  fate  of  the  day  was  being  de- 
cided on  Blenker  s  front.  Schenck  was  last  to  take  his 
post  in  the  Federal  line.  He  arrived  on  the  tield  at 
one  p.  M.,  and  moved  in  rear  and  to  the  right  of 
Milroy,  to  take  position  to  attack  the  Confederate 
left.  General  Ewell,  seeing  the  movement  of  troops 
towards  his  left,  strengthened  and  extended  his  line 
on  the  same  flank.  This  delayed  Schenck's  aggressive 
movements,  and  before  he  was  ready  to  attack  in  ear- 
nest the  battle  had  been  decided  by  the  defeat  of 
Blenker;  and  Fremont,  alarmed  by  the  disaster  on  his 
left  wing,  ordered  both  centre  and  right  to  Avithdraw. 
Ewell,  conscious  of  his  inferiority  of  force,  and  antici- 
pating an  attack  from  Schenck  on  his  left,  had  been 
content  with  the  advantages  already  gained  until  his 
enemy's  purposes  were  developed.  As  the  Federal 
right  and  centre  withdrew,  he  followed,  pushing  for- 
ward his  skirmishers  and  occupying  the  ground  in 
front  of  the  field.  Kiglit  was  at  hand,  however,  and 
General  Ewell  decided  to  bivouac  in  the  position  he 
lield  rather  than  risk  a  night  attack  on  the  enemy. 
Thus  ended  the  battle  of  Cross  Ke\^s.  Ewell  had 
repulsed  Fremont  so  decisively  on  one  wing  as  to 
paralyze  his  army  and  to  secure  all  the  advantages  of 
victory.  This  had  been  done,  too,  with  but  a  small 
part  of  the  force  at  command.  The  losses  were  great- 
ly disproportioned,  EwelFs  being  but  two  hundred  and 
eighty-seven,  while  that  of  Fremont  was  six  hundred 
and  sixty-four. 

Durina*    this    en":a(!:ement    the    advance   force    of 


PREPARING  FOR  A  FRESH  ATTACK.       279 

General  Shields  continued  quiet  on  the  east  side  of 
the  river.  Jackson,  emboldened  by  his  slowness  to 
advance,  and  the  easy  I'epulse  of  Fremont,  conceived 
the  bold  design  of  attacking-  his  two  opponents  in 
succession  the  next  day,  Avith  the  hope  of  overwhelm- 
ing them  separately.  For  this  purpose  he  directed 
that  during  the  night  a  temporary  bridge,  composed 
simph^  of  planks  laid  upon  the  running-gear  of  wagons, 
should  be  constructed  over  the  South  River  at  Port 
Republic,  and  ordered  Winder  to  move  liis  brigade  at 
dawn  across  both  rivers  and  against  Shields.  Ewell 
was  directed  to  leave  Trimble's  brigade  and  part  of 
Patton's  to  hold  Fremont  in  check,  and  to  move  at 
an  early  hour  to  follow  Winder.  Taliaferro's  brigade 
was  left  in  charge  of  the  batteries  along  the  river, 
and  to  protect  Trimble's  retreat  if  iiecessar}^  In  case 
of  an  easy  victory  over  Shields  in  the  morning,  Jack- 
son proposed  to  return  to  the  Harrisonburg  side  of 
the  river  and  attack  Fremont  in  the  afternoon.  In 
case,  however,  of  delay,  and  a  vigorous  advance  on 
Fremont's  part,  Trimble  was  to  retire  by  the  bridge 
into  Port  Republic,  and  burn  it  to  prevent  his  an- 
tagonist from  following.  Jackson  superintended  in 
person  the  construction  of  the  foot-bridge  over  South 
River,  and  before  five  o'clock  in  the  morning  Winder 
was  already  crossing.  After  two  brigades  had  crossed, 
Jackson  moved  at  once  against  the  Federals  at  Lewis- 
ton,  leaving  orders  for  the  remaining  troops  to  follow 
as  rapidly  as  possible.  The  foot-bridge  proving  defec- 
tive, a  good  deal  of  time  was  lost  in  getting  the  troops 
over.  Impatient  of  delay,  Jackson,  without  waiting 
for  the  remainder  of  his  forces,  ordered  an  attack,  as 
soon  as   Winder   had  come   up,   upon  Tyler,  whose 


2 so      LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

position  was  an  admirable  one,  on  tlie  second  terrace 
from  the  Shenandoah.  The  ground  held  by  his  left 
and  centre  was  elevated,  and  commanded  all  the  avail- 
able approaches  from  Port  Kepublic.  Here  he  had 
six  guns  planted.  A  dense  and  almost  impenetrable 
forest  protected  his  flank,  and  made  all  direct  ap- 
proach to  it  difficult,  while  the  batteries  there  placed 
covered  a  large  part  of  the  front  and  enfiladed 
Winder  s  advance.  In  this  position  General  Tyler 
disposed  his  force.  He  seems,  though  on  the  alert, 
not  to  have  been  a^vare  of  Jackson's  rapid  approach 
until  the  latter  was  deploying  in  his  front,  but  he 
was  altogether  ready  to  meet  the  attack.  Winder  de- 
ployed his  skirmishers,  and,  advancing  on  both  sides 
of  the  road,  drove  in  the  outposts.  He  soon  found 
that  the  Federal  batteries  commanded  the  road  and 
its  vicinity  completely.  Jackson  then  directed  him 
to  send  a  force  to  his  right  through  the  Avoods  to 
turn  the  Federal  left  flank.  Winder,  with  less  than 
twelve  hundred  men,  found  himself  unable  to  cope 
with  the  force  before  him,  and  sent  to  Jackson  for 
reinforcements,  which  the  latter  hurried  forward  as 
fast  as  possible.  A  most  determined  and  stubborn 
conflict  now  took  place.  Jackson,  linding  the  resist- 
ance of  the  enemy  so  much  more  obstinate  than  he 
had  expected,  and  that  his  first  attacks  had  failed, 
determined  to  concentrate  his  whole  force  and  ffive 
up  all  intention  of  recrossing  tlie  river.  He  there- 
fore sent  orders  to  Trimble  and  Taliaferro  to  leave 
Fremont's  front,  move  over  the  bridge,  burn  it,  and 
join  the  main  body  of  the  army  as  speedily  as  pos- 
sible. Meanwhile  the  bloody  Avork  went  on,  the 
Federals  for  a  time  proving  the  victors ;  but  a  rein- 


THE    LOSSES  OX   BOTH  SIDES.  281 

forcement  to  the  Confederate  batteries  in  aid  of  the 
infantry  enabled  them  to  carry  their  position,  and 
capture  five  of  the  enemy's  guns.  The  Federals  had 
made  a  most  gallant  tight,  both  Avith  their  guns  and 
to  save  them,  but  they  could  not  resist  the  combined 
attack.  They  Avere  pushed  back  at  every  point,  and 
were  soon  in  full  retreat.  Xot  a  moment  too  soon  had 
they  yielded  the  field,  for  the  remainder  of  Jackson's 
force  was  arriving,  and  in  a  short  time  they  must  have 
been  entirely  overwhelmed.  Colonel  Carroll,  who 
covered  the  Federal  rear,  says :  '•  As  soon  as  we  com- 
menced the  retreat,  the  enemy  turned  and  opened 
upon  us  portions  of  Clark's  and  Huntington's  bat- 
teries that  they  had  taken  from  us,  which  threw  the 
rear  of  our  column  in  great  disorder,  causing  them  to 
take  to  the  woods  and  making  it,  for  the  earlier  part 
of  the  retreat,  apparently  a  rout.  .  .  .  Their  cavalry 
also  charged  upon  our  rear,  increasing  the  confusion." 
The  Confederate  infantry  pressed  the  enemy  for  sev- 
eral miles,  and  the  cavalry  followed  three  miles  more. 
About  four  hundred  and  fifty  prisoners,  a  few  wag- 
ons, one  piece  of  abandoned  artillery,  and  eight  hun- 
dred muskets  were  the  trophies  of  the  pursuit.  Some 
two  hundred  and  seventy-five  of  the  Federal  wounded 
were  paroled  in  the  hospitals  near  the  battle-field. 
About  two  hundred  others  were  carried  off. 

In  the  series  of  engagements  on  the  Gth,  8th,  and 
9th  of  June  the  losses  were : 

Confederate.  Fkderal. 

On  June  6 70  Over  155 

8 287  704  (including  Carroll's). 

9 816  Say  916 

1173  1775 


282  LII-^E   OF  (iEXERAL   THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

During  the  forenoon  Fremont  had  advanced  against 
Trimble  on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  and  was  driv- 
ing him  slowly  back,  when  the  Litter  was  ordered  to 
rejoin  Jackson  at  Lewiston.  He,  Avith  Taliaferro, 
then  withdrew  as  rapidly  as  ])ossible,  crossed  the 
bridge  without  loss,  and  succeeded  in  burning  it  in 
the  face  of  the  advancing  Federals.  Fremont's  army 
arrived  on  the  heights  overlooking  Lewiston  only  in 
time  to  Avitness  the  retreat  of  Tyler,  and  Avere  pre- 
A^ented  by  the  river  from  giving  him  any  assistance. 

Xext  day  the  Confederates  rested  in  camp.  Ex- 
hausted nature  demanded  repose,  and  Jackson  noAv 
gave  it  to  his  tired  and  battle-Avorn  troo])s.  Both 
Shields  and  Fremont  continued  to  retreat  down  the 
A^alley.  '•  Significant  demonstrations  of  the  enem}^'' 
as  Fremont  expressed  it,  caused  him  to  Avithdraw  far- 
ther, and  he  joined  Banks  and  Sigel  at  Middletown, 
Avhile  Jackson  moved  out  from  his  confined  biA'ouac, 
and  camped  in  the  noble  park-like  forest  betAveen 
Weyer's  Cave  and  Mount  Meridian.  Here  for  five 
days  of  that  splendid  June  he  rested  and  refreshed  his 
army.  On  the  13tli  he  issued  this  order:  ''The  forti- 
tude of  the  troops  under  fatigue  and  their  A^alor  in 
action  have  again,  under  the  blessing  of  Divine  Provi- 
dence, placed  it  in  the  poAver  of  the  commanding  gen- 
eral to  congratulate  them  upon  the  victories  of  June 
8th  and  9th.  Beset  on  both  flanks  by  two  boastful 
armies,  you  have  escaped  their  toils,  inflicting  success- 
ively crushing  blows  upon  each  of  your  pursuers.  Let 
a  few  more  such  efforts  be  made,  and  you  may  confi- 
dently hope  that  our  beautiful  valley  will  be  cleansed 
from  the  pollution  of  the  invader's  presence.  The 
major-general  commanding  invites  you  to  obser\'e  to- 


THE  LORD'S  SUPPER  IN  CAMP.         283 

morrow,  June  14th,  from  three  o'clock  p.  m.,  as  a  sea- 
son of  thanksgiving,  by  a  suspension  of  all  military 
exercises,  and  by  holding  divine  service  in  the  several 
regiments/'  The  next  day,  being  the  Sabbath,  the 
Lord's  Supper  was  administered  in  a  woodland  grove, 
nature's  own  great  temple,  to  a  large  company  of 
Christian  soldiers  from  all  the  army,  with  whom  their 
general  took  his  place,  and  received  the  sacred  em- 
blems from  the  hands  of  a  regimental  chaplain. 

The  following  extracts  are  from  letters  to  his  wife  : 

'•Near  Port  Republic,  June  10th. 
"  On  Sunday,  the  8th,  an  attack  was  made  upon  us 
by  a  part  of  Shields's  command  about  seven  o'clock 
A.  M.,  which  a  kind  Providence  enabled  us  to  repulse. 
During  the  same  morning  Fremont  attacked  us  from 
the  opposite  side,  and  after  several  hours'  fighting  he 
also  was  repulsed.  Yesterday  morning  I  attacked  that 
part  of  Shields's  force  which  was  near  Port  Kepublic, 
and,  after  a  hotly  contested  field  from  near  six  to  ten 
and  a  half  a.  m.,  completely  routed  the  enemy,  who 
lost  eight  pieces  of  artillery  during  the  two  days. 
God  has  been  our  shield,  and  to  His  name  be  all  the 
glory.  I  sent  you  a  telegram  yesterday.  How  I  do 
wish  for  peace,  but  only  upon  the  condition  of  our 
national  independence  1" 

"Near  Weyer's  Cave,  June  14tli. 
'•  When  1  look  at  the  locaHty  of  the  cave,  I  take  ad- 
ditional interest  in  it  from  the  fact  that  my  €S2)osita 
was  there  once.  .  .  .  Our  God  has  again  thrown  his 
shield  over  me  in  the  various  apparent  dangers  to 
which  I  have  been  exposed.     This  evening  we  have 


284     LIFE  OF  GEXERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

religious  services  in  the  army  for  the  purpose  of  ren- 
dering thanks  to  the  Most  High  for  the  victories  with 
which  lie  lias  crowned  our  arms,  and  to  offer  earnest 
prayer  that  He  will  continue  to  give  us  success,  until, 
through  His  divine  blessing,  our  independence  shall  be 
established.    AVouldn't  you  like  to  get  home  again  ('^ 

The  battles  of  Cross  Keys  and  Port  Republic  closed 
the  Yalley  Campaign  of  1862.  Brilliant  as  were  the 
achievements  of  General  Jackson  during  the  succeed- 
ing months  of  his  too  brief  career,  it  was  his  Yalley 
Campaign  which  lifted  him  into  great  fame ;  nor  do 
any  of  his  subsequent  achievements  show  more  strik- 
ingly the  characteristics  of  his  genius.  Within  forty 
days  he  had  marched  four  hundred  miles ;  fought  four 
pitched  battles,  defeating  four  separate  armies,  Avitli 
numerous  combats  and  skirmishes;  sent  to  the  rear 
three  thousand  five  hundred  prisoners ;  killed  and 
wounded  a  still  larger  number  of  the  enemy,  and  de- 
feated or  neutralized  forces  three  times  as  numerous 
as  liis  own  upon  his  proper  theatre  of  war,  besides 
keeping  the  corps  of  McDowell  inactive  at  Fredericks- 
bur  o-. 

From  the  i^apidity  of  his  forced  marches,  Jackson's 
soldiers  were  sometimes  called  his  ''foot -cavalry.'' 
The}^  sometimes  marched  twenty-five,  thirty,  and  even 
thirty-five  miles  a  day !  A  Northern  writer  said  that 
''  Jackson  moved  infantry  with  the  celerity  of  cavalry. 
His  men  said  he  always  marched  at  'early  dawn,'  ex- 
cept when  /te  started  the  nigJd  lefore;  but  despite  all 
these  '  hardships,  fatigues,  and  dangers,'  says  one  of 
the  'foot-cavalry,'  'a  more  cheerful,  genial,  jolly  set 
could  not  be  found  than  were  these  men  in  gray.' " 


"STONEWALL  JACKSON'S  WAY."  285 

They  indulged  in  jokes  ad  libitum  at  the  expense  of 
each  other,  their  indefatigable  leader,  and  the  Yankees. 
They  declared  that  General  Jackson  Avas  far  greater 
than  Moses.  "  Moses,"  they  said,  ''  took  forty  years 
to  lead  the  Israelites  through  the  wilderness,  with 
manna  to  feed  them  on;  'old  Jack'  would  have 
double-quicked  through  it  on  half  rations  in  three 
days."  General  Banks  was  dubbed  by  them  "  Jack- 
son's commissary-general,"  and  whenever  the  head  of 
their  column  turned  down  the  valley,  the  jest  ran 
along  the  lines, ''  Lee  is  out  of  rations  again,  and  Jack- 
son is  detailed  to  call  on  the  '  commissary-general.'" 

It  was  a  stirring  life  the  soldiers  led  in  those  days  of 
the  war  I  Warm  friendships  sprang  up  among  com- 
rades who  stood  in  the  ranks  together  and  shared  the 
same  privations  and  dangers.  Besides  these  personal 
attachments  among  officers  and  soldiers,  that  which 
held  the  whole  army  together  was  its  devotion  to  its 
commander,  who  shared  the  privations  of  the  common 
soldier,  the  fatigues  of  the  march,  and  the  dangers  of 
battle.  All  had  such  confidence  in  his  genius  for  com- 
mand that  they  felt  sure  of  victory  where  he  led  the 
way.  This  confidence  is  expressed  in  the  rough  verses 
of  one  of  his  soldiers,  which  must  have  had  a  stirring 
effect  when  read  or  sung  after  a  long  day's  march,  as 
the  men  sat  round  their  camp  fires.  Then,  like  a 
bugle,  rang  out  the  lines  of 

"  Stonewall  Jackson's  Way. 

"  Come,  stack  arms,  men  ;  pile  on  the  rails ; 
Stir  up  the  camp-fires  bright ; 
No  matter  if  the  canteen  fails, 
We'll  make  a  roaring  night. 


286  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

Here  Slienandoali  brawls  along, 
There  lofty  Blue  liidge  echoes  strong, 
To  SAvell  tlie  Brigade's  roaring  song 
Of  Stonewall  Jackson's  way. 

"We  see  him  now — the  old  slouched  hat, 
Cocked  o'er  his  q\q  askew  ; 
The  shrewd  dry  smile,  the  speech  so  pat. 

So  calm,  so  blunt,  so  true. 
The  '  Blue-light  Elder  '  knows  them  well : 
Says  he,  'That's  Banks — he's  fond  of  shell; 
Lord  save  his  soul  I  we'll  give  him — '  well, 
That's  Stonewall  Jackson's  way. 

"Silence!  ground  arms  I  kneel  all!  caps  off! 
Old  Blue-light's  going  to  pray; 
Strangle  the  fool  that  dares  to  scoff! 

Attention  !  it's  his  way  ! 
Appealing  from  his  native  sod 
III  forma  paii2)er is  to  God, 
'Lay  bare  Thine  arm — stretch  forth  Thy  rod, 
Amen  !'     That's  Stonewall's  w:n-. 

"He's  in  the  saddle  now!    Fall  in! 
Steady,  the  whole  Brigade  ! 
Hill's  at  the  Ford,  cut  off!— we'll  win 

His  way  out,  ball  and  blade. 
What  matter  if  our  shoes  are  worn  ? 
What  matter  if  our  feet  are  torn? 
Quick  step  !  we're  with  him  before  morn  ! 
That's  Stonewall  Jackson's  way. 

"The  sun's  bright  lances  rout  the  mists 
Of  morning — and,  by  George  ! 
There's  Longstreet  struggling  in  the  lists, 

Hemmed  in  an  ugly  gorge. 
Pope  and  his  columns  whipped  before — 
'Bayonets  and  grape!'  hear  Stonewall  roar; 
'Charge,  Stuart!  pay  off  Ashby's  score!' 
That's  Stonewall  Jackson's  waj-. 


GENERAL   EWELL.  287 

"Ah!  maiden,  wait  and  watcli  and  yearn 
For  news  of  Stonewall's  band ; 
All !  widow,  read  with  eyes  that  burn, 

That  ring  upon  thy  hand. 
Ah  !  wife,  sew  on,  pray  on,  hope  on ; 
Thy  life  shall  not  be  all  forlorn. 
Tlie  foe  had  better  ne'er  been  born 

Thau  get  in  Stonewall's  way  !" 

The  gallant  General  Ewell  proved  a  faithful  coad- 
jutor to  General  Jackson  in  all  their  arduous  opera- 
tions too:ether.    AVhen  asked  once  what  he  thouo-ht  of 
the  latter's  generalshi}:)  in  this  campaign,  he  replied,  in 
his  brusque,  impetuous  manner :  "  Well,  sir,  "when  he 
commenced  it  I  thought  him  crazy ;  before  he  ended 
it  I  thought  him  inspired."    Ewell  was  not  a  religious 
man  at  the  beginning  of  the  war,  but  the  influence 
of  Jackson's  example  was  blest  to  his  conversion,  as 
the  following  well-authenticated  fact  will  prove  :  "At 
a  council  of  war  one  night,  Jackson  had  listened  very 
attentively  to  the  views  of  his  subordinates,  and  asked 
until  the  next  morning  to  present  his  own.     As  they 
came  away,  A.  P.  Hill  laughingly  said  to  Ewell,  'Well, 
I  suppose  Jackson  Avants  time  to  pray  over  it.'     Hav- 
ing occasion   to  return   soon  afterwards  to  get   his 
sword  which  he  had  forgotten,  Ewell  found  Jackson 
on  his  knees,  and  heard  his  ejaculatory  prayers  for 
God's   guidance  in  the  perplexing  movements  then 
before  them,  by  which  he  was  so  deeply  impressed, 
and   by   Jackson's   general   religious   character,  that 
he  said:   'If  that  is  religion,  I  must  have  it;'  and  in 
making  a  profession  of  faith  not  long  after,  he  at- 
tributed it  to  the  influence  of  General  Jackson's  ex- 
ample." 


288     LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

Still  more  striking  is  the  testimoii}^  to  Jackson  s  de- 
vout habits  by  his  colored  servant  Jim,  who  said  that 
he  could  always  tell  when  there  was  going  to  be  a  bat- 
tle. Said  he:  ''  The  general  is  a  great  man  for  pray- 
ing, night  and  morning  —  all  times.  But  when  I  see 
him  get  up  several  times  in  the  night  besides,  to  go  off 
and  pray,  then  I  know  there  is  going  to  he  something  to 
])oy ;  and  I  go  straight  and  pack  his  haversack,  be- 
cause I  know  he  will  call  for  it  in  the  morning." 


CHAPTER  XV. 

THE   RICHMOND    CAMPAIGN— 1862. 

"While  we  leave  the  brave  little  army  of  General 
Jackson  luxuriating  in  a  rest  among  the  grand  old 
woods  and  green  valleys  of  the  Shenandoah,  a  brief 
glance  will  be  given  at  the  operations  of  the  two  con- 
tending armies  around  Eichmond.  For  months  the 
o-overnment  at  Washington  had  been  concentrating 
its  energies  upon  the  capture  of  the  Confederate  capi- 
tal. General  McClellan,  with  a  large  army  splendidly 
equipped,  had  intrenched  and  fortified  himself  upon 
the  approaches  to  the  city,  and,  aided  by  a  fleet  of 
gun-boats  in  the  James  River,  was  marching  up  from 
the  Peninsula,  while  McDowell,  with  his  corps,  was 
advancing  from  Fredericksburg  to  join  him. 

To  oppose  this  great  movement.  General  Johnston 
had,  early  in  April,  transferred  his  army  from  Ma- 
nassas to  the  Peninsula,  but  in  consequence  of  greatly 
inferior  numbers  was  compelled  to  fall  back  before 
the  advance  of  the  l^orthern  army,  not,  however,  with- 
out resisting  and  inflicting  heavy  losses.  On  the  5th 
of  May  a  battle  was  fought  at  WilHamsburg ;  but 
Johnston  continued  to  retreat  until  he  finally  settled 
down  with  his  array  between  Richmond  and  the 
Chickahominy.  As  the  Federals  began  to  cross  that 
stream  on  the  31st  of  May,  he  attacked  them,  and  a 
fierce  contest  ensued,  lasting  from  two  o'clock  until 
19 


290  LIFE   OF   GENERAL  THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 

nightfall,  and,  as  he  reports,  "  drove  thera  back  to  the 
'  Seven  Pines,'  more  than  two  miles  through  their 
own  camps,  and  from  a  series  of  intrenchments,  and 
repelled  every  attempt  to  recapture  them  with  great 
slaughter/'  In  this  battle  he  was  wounded  so  se- 
riously that  he  was  unable  to  resume  command,  and 
his  place  was  filled  by  General  Kobert  E.  Lee,  who 
thus  became  the  commander-in-chief  of  all  the  South- 
ern armies.  President  Davis  was  also  upon  the  ground, 
giving  his  counsel  and  aid.  The  gallant  and  dashing 
General  J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  called  from  his  initials  "  Jeb  " 
Stuart,  had,  in  obedience  to  General  Lee's  orders, 
made  a  raid  with  his  cavalry  force  of  twelve  hundred 
men,  and  some  light  artillery,  around  the  whole  cir- 
cuit of  the  Federal  lines — a  perilous  undertaking,  but 
from  which  he  returned  in  safety,  having  thus  ascer- 
tained the  position  and  strength  of  the  enemy.  This 
was  one  of  the  most  daring  and  brilliant  exploits  of 
the  war,  and  won,  both  from  friends  and  foes,  great 
distinction  for  Stuart  and  his  gallant  troopers. 

And  now  comes  in  the  part  of  Jackson,  who,  after 
his  victory  at  Winchester  in  May,  had  requested  to 
be  reinforced,  saying  :  ''  I  should  have  forty  thousand 
men,  and  with  them  I  would  invade  the  Xorth ;"  to 
which  General  Lee's  reply  was :  ''  But  he  must  help 
me  to  drive  these  people  away  from  Richmond  first." 
Thus,  with  his  keen  military  sagacity,  he  had  already 
formed  the  design  to  concentrate  the  army  of  Jack- 
son with  his  own,  and  take  the  aggressive  against 
McClellan.  However,  in  order  to  deceive  the  enemy, 
it  was  necessary  to  mask  Jackson's  removal  from  the 
Valley ;  and  a  reinforcement  of  seven  thousand  men 
was   sent   as   far  as   Staunton  as    a  blind,  and  then 


THE   RICHMOND   CAMPAIGN.  291 

marched  back  with  Jackson's  army.  The  enemy  in  the 
Yalley  was  deceived  with  equal  adroitness,  and  Jack- 
son's sudden  march  over  the  mountains  was  a  com- 
plete surprise  to  friends  as  well  as  foes— not  a  man  in 
his  own  army  knowing  where  it  was  going  as  it  took 
up  its  march  from  Mount  Meridian  on  the  ITth  of 
June.  After  accompanying  his  troops  to  within  fifty 
miles  of  Kichmond,  he  placed  them  in  command  of 
General  Ewell,  and  rode  express,  with  a  single  courier, 
to  the  city  to  confer  with  General  Lee.  On  leaving 
his  camp  on  this  occasion,  he  met  with  a  pleasing 
evidence  of  the  faithfulness  of  one  of  his  pickets, 
who,  not  knoAving  him,  refused  to  let  him  pass  !  The 
general  pleaded  that  he  w^as  an  officer  on  military 
business,  but  without  avail;  then  that  he  was  an  officer 
bearing  important  intelligence  to  General  Lee,  but 
the  man  still  protested,  saying  he  had  special  orders 
from  Jackson  not  to  pass  either  soldiers  or  citizens. 
He  agreed,  hovrever,  to  call  the  captain  of  the  guard, 
who,  on  coming  forward,  recognized  his  general,  and 
at  once  let  him  pass.  He  did  not  go,  however,  with- 
out warmly  commending  the  fidelity  of  the  sentinel- 
soldier  for  his  strict  obedience  to  orders. 

After  a  full  conference  with  General  Lee,  Jackson 
the  next  day  returned  to  his  command,  and  conveyed 
it  safely  to  Ashland  on  the  evening  of  June  25th, 
from  which  he  was  directed  to  march  and  turn  the 
enemy's  works  at  Mechanicsville,  where  he  had  a 
powerful  reserve  intrenched.  On  reaching  Ashland, 
Jackson  encountered  unexpected  difficulties  in  the 
way  of  burned  bridges  and  the  handling  of  a  part  of 
his  army  by  inexperienced  subordinates,  which  caused 
much  delay.     Under  the  stress  of  his  great  anxiety  and 


292  LIFE   OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

heavy  responsibilities,  he  gave  not  one  moment  to 
rest  or  sleep  during  the  night,  but  devoted  the  whole 
of  it  to  the  most  energetic  preparations  and  to  jyrayer. 
Soon  after  sunrise  the  next  morning,  his  army  was 
put  in  motion,  and  in  its  march  met  at  each  cross- 
road tlie  vigilant  cavalry  of  Stuart,  that  gradually 
covered  his  left ;  and  by  the  afternoon  Jackson  was 
abreast  of  the  enemy's  right  flank  at  Mechanicsville. 
Here  A.  P.  HilFs  division-  had  been  in  position  be- 
fore the  enemy-s  works  for  some  hours,  and  was  only 
waiting  for  Jackson's  support  to  make  an  attack.  At 
the  sound  of  the  latter's  guns,  which  told  that  he  was 
approaching,  Hill  swept  forward,  and  drove  the 
enemy  out  of  the  little  village,  and  down  the  Chicka- 
hominy  into  their  strong  intrenchments  on  its  eastern 
bank.  In  their  impetuosity  to  drive  them  out  of  this 
position,  the  Confederates  Avould  not  wait  until  Jack- 
son's advance  could  turn  their  flank,  but  attacked 
them  that  evening  on  their  left.  A  furious  cannon- 
ade opened  on  both  sides,  and  after  a  severe  flght  the 
Confederates  failed  to  dislodge  the  enemy  from  their 
works,  and  slept  that  night  upon  their  arms.  This 
was  the  beginning  of  the  seven  days'  battles  around 
Kichmond. 

The  bear i no-  of  the  soldiers  in  this  crisis  was  not 
more  worthy  of  admiration  than  the  calmness  of  the 
people.     Dr.  Dabne}^  says  : 


*  It  is  taken  for  granted  that  most  readers  know  that  there  were 
two  generals  by  the  name  of  Hill  in  the  Confederate  army — A.  P. 
Hill,  of  Virginia,  and  D.  H.  Hill,  of  North  Carolina.  Both  were 
very  distinguished  officers.  The  latter  was  a  brotlier-in-law  of 
Stonewall  Jackson. 


THE   SEVEX   DAYS'    BATTLES.  293 

"  The  demeanor  of  the  citizens  of  Richmond  showed 
their  courage,  and  tlieir  faith  in  their  leaders  and 
tlieir  cause.  For  many  weeks  the  Christian  people 
had  given  themselves  to  prayer  ;  and  they  drew  from 
Heaven  a  sublime  composure.  The  spectator,  passing 
through  the  streets,  saw  the  ])eople  calmly  engaged 
in  their  usual  avocations,  or  else  wending  their  way 
to  the  churches,  while  the  thunder  of  cannon  shook 
the  city.  The  young  people  promenaded  the  heights 
north  of  the  town,  and  watched  the  distant  shells 
bursting  against  the  sky.  As  the  calm  summer  even- 
ing descended,  the  family  groups  were  seen  sitting 
upon  their  door-steps,  where  mothers  told  their  chil- 
dren at  their  knees  how  Lee  and  his  heroes  were 
driving  away  the  invaders." 

At  dawn  on  the  morning  of  the  2Tth,  the  contest 
between  the  Federal  artillery  and  that  of  A.  P.  Hill 
was  resumed  ;  but  perceiving  the  divisions  of  Jack- 
son approaching  their  rear,  the  enemy  retreated  down 
the  Chickahominy  towards  Cold  Harbor,  burning  and 
deserting  vast  quantities  of  army  stores.  General 
Lee  directed  Jackson  to  proceed  to  Cold  Harbor  with 
D.  H.  Hill,  and  strike  their  line  of  retreat.  JN'ot 
Ivuowing  the  country,  Jackson  was  misled  into  taking 
the  wrong  road,  and  had  to  retrace  his  march,  thus 
losing  an  hour  of  precious  time,  w^hile  the  cannonad- 
ing told  that  the  battle  was  thickening  in  front,  and 
there  was  danger  that  he  might  be  too  late  to  fulfil 
his  order.  But  he  maintained  his  calmness  and  com- 
posure, and  when  this  fear  w^as  suggested  to  him,  he 
replied :  "  No,  let  us  trust  that  the  providence  of 
God  will  so  overrule  it  that  no  mischief  shall  result." 


294  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

The  event  proved  that  his  conlidence  was  not  mis- 
taken, for  by  this  delay  D.  II.  Hill  was  enabled  to 
meet  him  precisely  at  the  appointed  time  and  place. 
While  A.  P.  Hill  was  fighting  against  overwhelming 
numbers,  Jackson,  with  D.  II,  Hill,  advanced  under 
the  hottest  fire,  and  for  several  hours  continued  the 
combat  with  wavering  fortunes.  The  battle  was  a 
hardly  contested  one ;  but  the  Confederates,  after 
making  the  most  stubborn  resistance,  and  stoutly 
holding  ever}''  inch  of  ground  they  had  won,  at  last 
won  the  day.  The  faithful  Stonewall  Brigade,  under 
General  Winder,  with  D.  II.  Hill's  command,  made 
brilliant  charges;  and,  with  simultaneous  successes 
upon  other  parts  of  the  field,  the  whole  wing  of  the 
Federal  army,  with  its  reinforcements,  Avas  forced  back 
into  the  swamps  of  the  Chickahominy. 

During  this  terrible  day,  while  the  issue  was  in 
suspense,  Jackson  was  seen  to  show  unwonted  excite- 
ment, riding  restlessly  to  and  fro,  despatching  mes- 
sengers to  each  of  his  division  commanders  with  this 
sharp  command  :  ''  Tell  them  this  affair  must  hang 
in  suspense  no  longer;  siceep  the  field  with  the  hay- 
onetr  But  before  his  messages  were  received,  the 
ringing  cheers  rising  from  every  side  out  of  the  smok- 
ing woods  relieved  his  anxiety,  and  told  him  that  the 
day  was  won.  The  next  morning  there  was  not  a 
Federal  soldier  north  of  the  Chickahominy.  In  Jack- 
son's official  report  of  the  battle,  he  thus  describes 
the  part  borne  by  the  gallant  General  Hood  and  his 
Texans,  who  were  under  his  command  : 

''  Advancing;  throuo^h  a  number  of  retreating  and 
disordered  regiments,  he  came  within  range  of  the 


THE   SEVEN   DAYS'   BATTLES.  295 

enemy's  fire;  who,  concealed  in  an  open  wood  and 
protected  by  breastworks,  poured  a  destructive  fire, 
for  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  into  bis  advancing  line,  under 
which  many  brave  oflScers  and  men  fell.  Dashing  on 
with  unfaltering  step  in  the  face  of  these  murderous 
discharges  of  canister  and  musketry,  General  Hood 
and  Colonel  Laws,  at  the  heads  of  their  respective  bri- 
gades, rushed  to  the  charge  with  a  yell.  Moving 
down  a  precipitous  ravine,  leaping  ditch  and  stream, 
clambering  up  a  difficult  ascent,  and  exposed  to  an  in- 
cessant and  deadly  fire  from  the  intrenchments,  these 
brave  and  determined  men  pressed  forward,  driving 
the  enemy  from  his  well-selected  and  fortified  posi- 
tion. In  this  charge,  in  which  upwards  of  a  thousand 
men  fell,  killed  and  wounded,  before  the  face  of  the 
enemy,  and  in  which  fourteen  pieces  of  artillery,  and 
nearly  a  regiment  were  captured,  the  Fourth  Texas, 
under  the  lead  of  General  Hood,  was  the  first  to 
pierce  these  strongholds  and  seize  the  guns.  .  .  . 
The  shouts  of  triumph  which  rose  from  our  brave 
men  as  they,  unaided  by  artillery,  had  stormed  this 
citadel  of  their  strength,  were  promptly  carried  from 
line  to  line,  and  the  triumphant  issue  of  this  assault, 
with  the  well-directed  fire  of  the  batteries,  and  suc- 
cessful charges  of  Hill  and  Winder  upon  the  enemy's 
right,  determined  the  fortunes  of  the  day.  The  Fed- 
erals, routed  at  every  point,  and  aided  by  the  dark- 
ness of  the  night,  escaped  across  the  Chickahominy." 

The  next  morning,  as  General  Jackson  inspected 
this  position  and  saw  the  deadly  disadvantages  under 
which  the  Texans  had  carried  it,  he  exclaimed :  '-  These 
men  are  soldiers  indeed !" 


296  I^IFE   OF  GENERAL   THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 

The  Confederates  had  indeed  gained  a  great  victory. 
It  now  remained  to  push  their  success  to  the  utmost. 
To  this  end  Ewell  and  Stuart  were  sent  to  cut  off  the 
retreat  by  the  York  River  Eaih^oad,  Avhich  was  effected. 
Before  retiring,  the  enemy  destro\^ed  a  vast  amount  of 
army  stores  and  burned  the  residence  and  farm  build- 
ings of  General  Lee  at  the  White  House.  The  retreat 
down  the  Peninsuht  being  now  cut  off,  it  only  remained 
for  the  Confederate  right  wing  to  get  between  it  and 
the  James  Eiver  to  complete  the  success  by  the  capt- 
ure of  the  whole  Federal  army.  But  the  retreat  was 
aided  by  the  dense  forests  and  impassable  swam})s,  and 
as  they  burned  the  bridges  across  the  Chickahominy 
as  soon  as  they  had  crossed  them,  they  were  able  to 
continue  their  march  towards  the  James.  At  their 
intrenchments,  and  in  their  track,  were  found  desert- 
ed supplies  of  vast  arm 3^  stores,  much  of  which  they 
had  attempted  to  destroy.  But,  notwithstanding,  the 
spoils  proved  a  rich  harvest  to  the  Confederates,  Avho 
gained  great  stores  of  fixed  ammunition,  and,  besides, 
the  suffering  country  people  were  supplied  with  much- 
needed  provisions  and  necessaries. 

McClellan's  last  intrenchments  were  at  Savage 
Station,  where  General  Magrader  made  a  vigorous 
attack  upon  his  flank  and  front,  and  drove  him  out  of 
them  near  sunset  of  the  29th.  The  sound  of  the  com- 
bat put  Jackson  on  the  qui  vive,  and  as  he  lay  down 
under  the  open  sky  for  a  short  rest,  he  gave  orders 
that  everything  should  be  ready  to  move  at  early 
dawn.  At  midnight  he  was  awakened  by  a  sudden 
shower,  which  drenched  him  so  thoroughly  that  he 
could  sleep  no  more,  and  he  determined  to  precede  his 
troops  to  the  position  of  Magruder,  in  order  to  have 


SLEEPING  IX  THE   RAIX.  297 

time  for  fuller  conference.    This  was  the  same  gallant 

John  Bankhead  Magruder  under  whom  Jackson  won 

his  first  laurels  as  a  soldier  in  Mexico. 

On  June  30th  General  Jackson  wrote  thus  to  his 

wife : 

"Near  White  Oak  Swamp  Bridge. 

"An  ever-kind  Providence  has  greatly  blessed  our 
efforts  and  given  us  great  reason  for  thankfidness  in 
having  defended  Eichmond.  To-day  the  enemy  is  re- 
treating down  the  Chickahominy  towards  the  James 
River.  Many  prisoners  are  falling  into  our  hands. 
General  D.  H.  Hill  and  I  are  together.  I  had  a  wet 
bed  last  night,  as  the  rain  fell  in  torrents.  I  got  up 
about  midnight,  and  haven't  seen  much  rest  since.  I 
do  trust  that  our  God  will  soon  bless  us  with  an  honor- 
able peace,  and  permit  us  to  be  togetlier  at  home  again 
in  the  enjoyment  of  domestic  happiness. 

"  You  must  give  fifty  dollars  for  church  purposes, 
and  more  should  you  be  disposed.  Keep  an  account 
of  the  amount,  as  we  must  give  at  least  one  tenth  of 
our  income.  I  would  like  very  much  to  see  my  dar- 
ling, but  hope  that  God  will  enable  me  to  remain  at 
the  post  of  duty  until,  in  His  own  good  time.  He 
blesses  us  with  independence.  This  going  home  has 
injured  the  army  immensely." 

After  the  discomforts  of  the  previous  night,  when 
his  troops  came  up,  he  was  found  drying  himself  be- 
fore a  camp-tire,  but,  speedily  taking  his  place  at  their 
head  and  moving  on,  captured  at  Savage  Station  a 
field  hospital  containing  twenty-five  hundred  sick  and 
wounded.  Other  prisoners  fell  into  his  hands  at  every 
step,  until  one  thousand  were  sent  to  the  rear.     An 


298  LIFE   OF  GEXERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

oiRcer,  congratulating  him  on  the  great  number  of  his 
caj^tives,  said  they  surrendered  too  Avillingly,  and  that 
their  maintenance  would  be  a  heavy  expense  to  the 
Confederacy  ;  but  General  Jackson  answered,  with  a 
smile, ''  It  is  cheaper  to  feed  them  tlian  to  light  them.-' 
On  this  day,  the  3oth,  he  surprised  the  enemy  by  a 
fierce  onslaught  from  his  batteries  tliat  were  in  a  con- 
cealed position,  which  drove  them  ra])idly  to  the  rear, 
leaving  several  pieces  of  artillery  behind  them.  They 
afterwards  rallied,  and  during  the  rest  of  the  day  an 
artillery  duel  was  kept  up ;  but  as  each  part}^  was  in- 
visible to  the  other,  not  much  damage  resulted  to  either 
side.  The  White  Oak  Swamp  bridge  having  been  de- 
stroyed, Jackson  made  an  attempt  to  repair  it,  so  as  to 
pursue  the  enemy ;  but  when  night  came,  and  he  saw 
that  so  little  had  been  accomplished,  more  wearied 
and  depressed  than  he  had  ever  been  seen  to  be  before, 
as  he  lay  down  to  sleep,  he  said :  "  Xow,  gentlemen, 
let  us  at  once  to  bed,  and  rise  with  the  dawn,  and  see 
if  to-morrow  we  cannot  do  something  /" 

During  that  night  the  Federal  forces  skilfully  with- 
drew from  his  front  and  moved  to  Malvern  Hill.  At 
an  early  hour  the  next  morning,  July  1st,  Jackson  put 
his  corps  in  motion  and  crossed  the  White  Oak  Swamp. 
His  reconnoissance  showed  him  the  enemy  strongly 
posted  upon  an  eminence  in  front  of  Malvern  Hill.  In 
short,  the  whole  army  of  McClellan,  which  was  still 
powerful  and  well  disciplined,  was  now  assembled  on 
one  field,  wliile  the  whole  Confederate  army  was  con- 
verging around  it,  under  the  immediate  ej^e  of  the 
general-in-chief  and  the  President.  The  war  of  the 
giants  was  now  about  to  begin.  The  position  of  the 
Federals  was  selected  by  McClellan  himself  with  con- 


BATTLE   OF  MALVERX  HILL.  299 

summate  skill— the  ridge  comraanding  all  the  sur- 
rounding country,  and  he  was  also  under  the  protec- 
tion of  his  gun-boats  in  the  James  River.  The  Con- 
federates labored  under  the  disadvantage  of  an  in- 
ferior position,  having  also  to  cross  swampy  woods 
and  a  plain,  which  was  exposed  to  the  fire  of  McClel- 
lan's  artillery,  and,  as  they  approached  his  intrench- 
ments,  his  deadly  musketry  was  equally  appalling. 
The  Confederate  leaders  were  likewise  ignorant  of  the 
country,  which  impeded  their  progress  and  delayed 
the  opening  of  the  battle  until  late  in  the  afternoon. 
But  on  it  came  at  last,  and  raged  with  the  utmost  fury 
until  night  put  an  end  to  the  conflict.  Jackson's 
troops  fought  with  their  usual  bravery,  but  he  con- 
ceded the  laurels  of  the  day  to  D.  H.  Hill,  who  charged 
across  the  open  plain  in  face  of  a  terrific  fire  of  artil- 
lery, under  which  his  men  fell  fast.  But  he  was  soon 
reinforced  by  Jackson,  and  enabled  to  maintain  his 
ground  until  the  veil  of  darkness  interposed  and  mer- 
cifully closed  the  bloody  struggle.  At  ten  o'clock  the 
battle  died  awa}^,  when  Jackson  retired  slowly  and 
wearily  to  the  rear  to  seek  some  refreshment  and  rest. 
His  faithful  servant,  Jim,  prepared  a  pallet  for  him  on 
the  ground,  in  the  midst  of  a  confused  multitude  of 
wagons  and  stragglers,  and  after  partaking  of  some 
food  he  sank  to  sleep.  At  one  o'clock  he  was  awak- 
ened by  his  division  commanders,  who  wished  to  re- 
ceive instructions  for  the  morning.  These  officers  all 
agreed  in  the  opinion  that  McClellan  would  probabl}^ 
take  the  aggressive  on  the  morrow,  and  were  full  of 
apprehension  as  to  their  ability  to  resist  him.  Jack- 
son listened  indifferently,  asking  a  few  brief  questions, 
and  said,  as  if  at  ease  in  the  matter,  "  No ;  I  think  he 
will  clear  out  in  the  morning." 


300     LIFE  OF  GEXERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

His  words  were  prophetic,  for  when  morning 
dawned,  with  a  pouring  rain,  McClellan  was  indeed 
gone,  leaving  behind  him  the  marks  of  a  precipitate 
retreat.  The  wearied  Confederates  were  permitted 
by  the  commander-in-chief  to  rest  a  day  and  re])len- 
ish  the  ammunition  of  their  batteries,  and  liad  orders 
to  move  the  next  day  in  pursuit.  Jackson  was  most 
impatient  to  march  with  the  dawn,  hurrying  off  with- 
out breakfast ;  but  after  losing  a  day,  Avhich  gave  the 
Federals  time  to  reach  the  shelter  of  their  gun-boats, 
the  march  proved  to  be  a  useless  one,  and  the  oppor- 
tunity of  capturing  the  enemy  was  gone. 

''  The  commander-in-chief  was  disappointed  to  learn, 
on  his  arrival  in  front  of  the  Federals,  that  no  ojipor- 
tunity  had  been  found  for  striking  a  blow,  eitlier  on 
their  retreat  or  in  their  present  position.  He  immedi- 
ately rode  forward  with  General  Jackson,  and  the  two, 
dismounting,  proceeded  without  attendants  to  make  a 
careful  reconnoissance  on  foot  of  the  enemy's  whole 
line  and  position.  Jackson  concurred  fully  in  the  re- 
luctant opinion  to  which  General  Lee  was  brought  by 
this  examination — that  an  attack  would  now  be  im- 
proper ;  so  that  after  mature  discussion  it  was  deter- 
mined that  the  enemy  should  be  left  unassailed  to  the 
effects  of  the  summer  heats  and  the  malaria,  which 
Avere  now  at  hand.'' 

General  Lee,  in  tlie  close  of  his  report,  says  : 

"  Under  ordinary  circumstances  the  Federal  army 
should  have  been  destroyed.  .  .  .  But  regret  that  more 
was  not  accomjilished  gives  way  to  gratitude  to  the 
Sovereign  Iluler  of  the  universe  for  the  results  acliieved. 
The  siege  of  Richmond  was  raised,  and  tlie  object  of 


RESULT   OF  SEVEX   DAYS'  BATTLES.  301 

a  campaign,  which  had  been  prosecuted  after  months 
of  preparation  at  an  enormous  expenditure  of  men  and 
money,  completely  frustrated.  More  than  ten  thou- 
sand prisoners— including  officers  of  rank— fifty-two 
pieces  of  artillery,  and  upwards  of  thirty-five  thousand 
stand  of  small-arms,  were  captured.  The  stores  and 
supplies  of  every  description  which  fell  into  our  hands 
were  great  in  amount  and  value ;  but  small  in  com- 
parison with  those  destroyed  by  the  enemy.  His 
losses  in  battle  exceeded  our  own,  as  attested  by  the 
thousands  of  dead  and  wounded  left  on  every  field ; 
while  his  subsequent  inaction  shows  in  what  condition 
the  survivors  reached  the  protection  to  which  they 
fled." 

After  spending  a  few  days  in  a  much-needed  rest 
and  in  gathering  up  arms,  the  Confeder'ate  army  was 
marched  back,  on  the  8th  of  July,  to  the  vicinity  of 
Richmond. 

A  few  extracts  from  Jackson's  letters  at  this  time 
will  furnish  glimpses  of  his  varied  experiences  during 
this  memorable  week.     Thus  he  writes  : 

"  When  my  command  arrived  at  White  Oak  Swamp 
bridge  we  found  it  broken  up  by  the  enemy ;  but  we 
opened  upon  the  Federal  artillery,  and  succeeded  in 
securing  one  of  their  cannons,  four  caissons,  and  one 
battery  wagon,  in  addition  to  part  of  a  pontoon-bridge 
train  and  prisoners.  Many  prisoners  have  fallen  into 
our  hands,  and  they  really  appear  gratified  at  the  idea 
of  being  taken.  I  have  never  seen  prisoners  so  con- 
tented. ...  On  Tuesday  we  had  another  engage- 
ment, in  which  General  D.  H.  Hill,  with  his  division. 


302     LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

accomplished  more  than  any  other  part  of  the  army. 
Other  troops  were  sent  to  support  him,  but  his  division 
may  be  said  to  have  borne  the  brunt  of  the  battle,  and 
he  was  by  far  the  most  distinguished  officer  engaged 
tliat  day.  My  position  is  now  about  three  miles  north 
of  James  Eiver,  and  twenty  -  five  miles  below  llich- 
mond.  During  the  past  week  I  have  not  been  well, 
have  suffered  from  fever  and  debility,  but  through 
the  blessing  of  an  ever-kind  Providence  I  am  much 
better  to-day.  Last  week  I  received  a  present  of  a 
beautiful  summer  hat  from  a  lady  in  Cumberland. 
Our  Heavenly  Father  gives  me  friends  wherever  I 
go.  ,  .  .  It  would  be  delightful  to  see  my  darling,  but 
we  know  that  all  things  are  ordered  for  the  best." 

The  corps  reached  the  neighborhood  of  Richmond 
on  the  10th  of  July,  and  it  was  during  its  stay  of  a 
few  days  there  that  General  Jackson  made  his  first 
appearance  openly  in  the  cit}^,  for  the  purpose  of  at- 
tending divine  worship  on  the  Sabbath.  He  thus 
speaks  of  it  in  a  letter  to  his  wife : 

"  Yesterday  I  heard  Rev.  Dr.  M.  D.  Hoge  preach  in 
his  church,  and  also  in  the  camp  of  the  Stonewall 
Brigade.  It  is  a  great  comfort  to  have  the  privilege 
of  spending  a  quiet  Sabbath  within  the  walls  of  a 
house  dedicated  to  the  service  of  God." 

He  slipped  into  the  church  unattended — quietly  and 
modestly  took  a  seat  near  the  door,  and,  after  the  ser- 
vices were  over,  was  gone  before  the  congregation  Avas 
aware  of  his  presence.  After  calling  on  a  mother  who 
had  lost  a  son  in  his  command,  he  returned  to  his  tent. 


"WHAT!    STONEWALL  JACKSON?"  303 

So  great  was  the  modesty  of  the  now  famous  general 
that  he  found  his  greatness  embarrassing,  and  he  shrank 
more  from  pubKc  notice  and  applause.  Whenever  his 
soldiers  caught  sight  of  him,  they  rent  the  air  with 
their  cheers,  which  he  always  acknowledged  by  lifting 
his  cap,  and  then  putting  spurs  to  his  horse  and  gal- 
loping away  at  the  top  of  his  speed.  "  Little  Sorrel " 
seemed  to  know  the  signal  for  this  stampede,  and  per- 
haps it  was  from  these  marvellous  flights  that  the 
>'  foot-cavalry  "  drew  some  of  their  inspiration.  When- 
ever the  sound  of  the  "  rebel  yell "  was  heard  in  their 
camp,  the  soldiers  jocularly  said,  "  That's  '  old  Jack,' 
or  a  ral)hit  r 

In  the  movements  of  the  troops  around  Richmond, 
on  one  occasion,  Jackson  and  his  staff  Avere  compelled 
to  ride  through  a  field  of  uncut  oats.  The  owner 
rushed  out  upon  them  with  great  indignation,  venting 
his  rage  specially  on  the  general's  devoted  head,  and 
demanding  his  name  ^^  that  he  might  report  him."  In 
a  quiet  tone  the  name  was  given.  '*  What  Jackson  ?" 
asked  the  farmer.  "  General  Jackson,"  was  the  reply. 
''What!"  exclaimed  the  electrified  man,  as  the  truth 
dawned  upon  him — "  what !  '  Stonewall '  Jackson  ?" 
"  That  is  what  they  call  me,"  was  the  answer.  Tak- 
ing off  his  hat  with  the  profoundest  respect,  and  with 
a  voice  now  all  kindness  and  reverence,  the  man  said : 
"  General  Jackson,  ride  over  my  whole  field ;  do  what- 
ever vou  like  with  it,  sir." 


On  the  11th  of  July,  he  wrote  to  his  wife  from 
Richmond : 

''Again  your  husband  is  about  leaving  his  camp. 


30^  LIFE   OF    GENERAL   THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

Please  direct  your  next  letter  to  Gordons^ille,  and 
continue  to  address  me  there  until  you  hear  otherwise. 
Everybody  doesn't  know  the  meaning  and  location  of 
' Headquarters^  Valley  District /'" 

During  his  campaign  in  the  valley  he  had  requested 
that  his  letters  should  be  directed  simply  to  ''  Head- 
quarters, Valley  District*- — his  headquarters  during 
all  that  time  being  principally  in  the  saddle ;  but  after 
he  was  transferred  to  Eichmond  the  inappropriate- 
ness  of  this  address  amused  him,  and  perhaps  caused 
delay  and  even  loss  of  his  letters.  Ubiquitous  as  he 
was  dui'ing  the  war,  he  could  not  have  any  one  address 
lono".  About  the  time  of  his  leavinon  Eichmond,  his 
chief  of  staff,  the  Eev.  Dr.  Dabney  (who  afterwards 
wrote  his  biography)  was  compelled  to  resign  in  con- 
sequence of  ill-health.  The  general  wrote:  "It  was 
with  tearful  eyes  that  I  consented  to  our  separation." 
This  officer,  by  his  intelhgence  and  faithfulness,  had 
been  invaluable  to  him,  not  only  in  his  Yalley  Cam- 
paign, but  in  the  battles  around  Eichmond.  In  one 
instance,  at  the  battle  of  Chickahominy,  a  misconcep- 
tion of  Jackson's  orders  on  the  part  of  a  messenger 
might  have  resulted  in  a  fatal  error  but  for  the  promi)t- 
ness  and  eflficiency  of  the  chief  of  staff,  avIio,  compre- 
hending the  general's  true  intentions,  and  the  urgency 
of  the  occasion,  went  himself  in  person  and  brought 
all  into  harmonious  action,  and  thus  decided  the  fort- 
unes of  the  day. 

In  a  letter  to  his  wife  he  says : 

"  If  you  will  vouch  for  Joseph's  (her  brother)  leing 


ALWAYS   KIND  TO    THOSE   WHO   DID   THEIR   DUTY.    305 

an  early  riser  (luring  the  remainder  of  the  war,  I  will 
give  him  an  aide-ship.  I  do  not  want  to  make  an 
appointment  on  my  staff  except  of  such  as  are  early 
risers ;  but  if  ijon  will  vouch  for  him  to  rise  regularly 
at  dawn,  I  will  offer  him  the  position/' 

The  youth,  Captain  J.  G.  Morrison,  was  courageous 
enough  to  accept  even  on  this  rigid  condition,  and 
served  the  general  faithfully  until  his  death,  being 
himself  twice  wounded,  the  last  time  losing  the  whole 
of  one  foot,  except  the  heel. 

General  Jackson  was  no  respecter  of  persons  when 
duty  was  concerned.  On  one  occasion,  when  he  had 
an  early  march  before  him,  he  so  lost  his  patience  with 
the  tardiness  of  his  staff  ixi  rising  that  he  ordered  his 
cook  to  pack  up  everything,  and  to  throw  away  the 
coffee,  which  had  been  captured  from  the  enemy  and 
was  a  rare  luxury ;  and  he  finally  threatened  to  arrest 
the  whole  staff  if  they  did  not  get  up  immediately. 
This  had  the  effect  of  awakening  them  thoroughly, 
and  doubtless  of  arousing  some  ire  also  against  the 
stern  and  relentless  leader,  though  all  who  served  un- 
der him  were  ready  to  say,  as  one  did,  that  ''  his  kind- 
ness to  those  who  did  their  duty  was  like  a  woman's." 
The  attachment  of  members  of  his  staff  to  him  was 
sincere  and  strong.  They  knew  he  was  sterner  to 
himself  than  he  was  to  them,  and  could  never  doubt 
his  whole-souled  and  patriotic  devotion  I  shall  never 
forget  the  intense  feeling  with  which  young  "  Sandy  " 
Pendleton  (as  he  was  called)  said  to  me  the  day  after 
General  Jackson's  death,  his  face  bathed  in  tears : 
'•  God  knows  I  would  have  died  for  him  P^ 
20 


306  L^^'E   OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

This  true  and  gallant  officer  followed  his  general  tu 
the  grave  in  less  than  a  year — slain  in  battle  in  liis 
youth  and  promise.  He  was  the  only  son  of  the  Eev. 
General  W.  N.  Pendleton,  of  J.exington,  and  would 
have  followed  his  father's  sacred  calling  if  he  had 
lived.  A  tender  romance  hangs  around  his  memory. 
With  his  ardent,  chivalrous  nature,  his  heart  was  soon 
captured  during  the  war  by  a  charming  young  lady, 
near  Avhose  home  he  was  stationed  for  a  time  in  Avin- 
ter-quarters.  He  had  some  rivals  among  his  brothei*- 
officers,  but  was  successful  in  winning  the  prize,  and, 
obtaining  a  furlough,  was  married,  and  spent  a  few 
blissful  weeks  with  his  young  bride,  Avlien  duty  called 
him  into  the  field,  and  thev  never  met  as^ain.  Manv 
were  the  similar  tragedies  which  the  cruel  war  brought 
to  the  hearts  and  homes  of  the  devoted  Southern 
Avomen,  for  even  the  stern  duties  of  the  soldier's  life 
did  not  put  a  stop  to  marrying  and  giving  in  mar- 
riage ;  hence  it  was  that  there  were  left  so  manv  broken 
hearts  and  blif]:hted  lives. 


CHAPTEE  XVI. 

RAISING  THE  BLACK  FLAG.— A  NEW  FLAX  OF  CAMPAIGN.— 
MOVABLE  COLUMNS  TO  INVADE  THE  NORTH. 

The  failure  of  McClellan  in  the  Peninsular  cam- 
paign had  led  to  a  change  of  commanders  in  the 
JS^orthern  army,  and  General  John  Pope,  who  had  ob- 
tained some  reputation  at  the  West,  was  brought  East 
and  placed  at  the  head  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
He  began  with  a  boastful  announcement  of  what  he 
was  going  to  do.  Disdaining  the  slow  and  cautious 
policy  of  his  predecessors,  he  proudly  declared  that 
''  his  headquarters  would  be  in  the  saddle,"  giving  the 
impression  that  he  would  in  a  single  campaign,  per- 
haps in  a  single  battle,  sweep  the  opposing  armies  from 
the  face  of  the  earth.  These  boastful  proclamations 
were  repeated  in  Richmond,  and  greeted  with  a  smile 
by  those  who  remembered  that  "  pride  goeth  before  a 
fall." 

But  Avhat  disturbed  the  Southern  people  more  than 
his  martial  ])rowess  was  the  way  in  which  he  began 
his  operations,  which  were  said  to  be  in  violation  of 
all  the  laws  of  war.  This  naturally  provoked  bitter 
resentment,  and  led  to  threats  of  retaliation.  That 
alone  explains  the  following  interview,  in  which  Jack- 
son speaks  of  raising  the  black  flag — a  suggestion  so 
alien  to  his  character  that  the  statement  Avould  be 
received  with  the  <?reatest  reserve,  did  it  not  come 


308  J^IFE   OF   GENERAL   THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

from  liis  own  brother-in-law,  Captain  (afterwards 
General)  Itufus  Barringer,  who  might  be  supposed 
to  be  in  his  confidence.  Even  then  it  is  justified  only 
as  a  retaliation  for  the  similar  conduct  of  Pope,  I>ut 
as  the  latter  s  campaign  soon  came  to  an  inglorious  end, 
nothing  more  is  ever  heard  of  the  retaliation.  With 
this  explanation  I  give  the  following  letter,  as  furnish- 
ing a  glimpse  of  the  secret  counsels  of  the  war,  which 
will  have  its  interest  for  the  students  of  history : 

"  During  the  battles  around  Eichmond  in  June  and 
July,  1862,  I  was  a  captain  of  cavalry  in  the  First 
North  Carolina  Eegiment,  Colonel  L.  S.  Baker,  a 
young  AVest  -  Pointer,  commanding.  Brigadier -Gen- 
eral J.  E.  B.  Stuart  had  charge  of  all  the  cavalry  in 
the  army,  and  for  some  days  after  the  battles  Gen- 
eral Jackson  still  held  the  front,  facing  McClellan  at 
Harrison's  Landing. 

"On  the  14th  of  July  I  was  in  picket  along  the 
Chickahominy  and  the  James  with  my  squadron. 
Companies  C  and  F,  the  Mecklenburg  and  Cabarras 
companies.  On  that  day  Colonel  Baker  sent  me  a 
note,  received  from  Stuart,  as  follows : 

"'Headquarters  Cavalry  Brigade,  July  6th,  1862. 
'' '  Colonel, — General  Jackson  is  anxious  to  see  Cap- 
tain Kufus  Barringer.  Please  send  him  up  this  after- 
noon, as  Gen.  J.  may  be  gone  after  that.  Please  for- 
ward a  report  of  operations  of  your  cavalry  from  20th 
June  to  10th  July  as  soon  as  possible. 
" '  In  haste. 

"  '  J.  E.  B.  Stuart, 

" '  Brigadier-General.' 


SUMMONED  TO  HEADQUARTERS.         309 

"  This  note  is  now  before  me  in  Stuart's  own  Avrit- 
ing,  and,  not  coming  through  the  ordinary  staff  chan- 
nels, plainly  showed  it  was  the  result  of  a  personal 
interview  between  Stuart  and  Jackson.  As  General 
Jackson  and  I,  however,  were  brothers-in-law,  1  at- 
tached no  importance  at  the  time  to  tliese  incidental 
matters.  It  is  proper,  though,  to  add  that  in  point 
of  fact  we  had  seen  very  little  of  each  other  prior  to 
this  time.  He  living  in  Virginia,  and  I  in  North  Car- 
olina, and  our  occupations  quite  differing,  we  had  only 
met  a  few  times,  and  not  at  all  since  the  war  began. 
But  he  was  now,  when  I  reached  his  camp,  unusually 
cordial,  and  at  once  remarked :  '  Captain,  I  have  sent 
for  YOU  for  a  matter  entirely  between  ourselves.  You 
will  stay  with  me  in  my  tent  here  to-night.  If  Gen- 
eral Pope  does  not  disturb  us,  I  am  sure  McClellan 
will  not,  and  we  can  have  a  good  talk.'  At  that  time 
tlie  authorities  at  Washington  had  already  began  to 
change  their  war  policy,  and  Major-General  John  Pope 
had  entered  E'orthern  Virginia,  and,  as  he  himself 
boasted,  '  with  headquarters  in  the  saddle,'  threatened 
to  overrun  the  whole  country  and  speedily  lay  it 
waste. 

"With  a  soldier's  plain  supper  and  lying  together 
on  army  couches,  and  with  this  new  movement  of  the 
enemy  emphasizing  his  whole  tone.  General  Jackson 
soon  began  the  business  in  hand.  Once  fairly  at  ease, 
he  said : 

"'I  recall.  Captain  Barringer,  the  talk  you  and 
I  once  had  at  my  table  in  Lexington  in  the  heated 
party  struggle  of  1860.  Though  differing  in  politics, 
we  happened  to  agree  as  to  the  character  of  this  war, 
if  it  once  began.    We  both  thought  it  would  be  inter- 


310  Llt^E   OF   GENERAL   THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 

necine  in  its  results.  Xeither  of  us  had  any  special 
concern  for  slavery,  but  both  agreed  that  if  the  sword 
was  once  drawn,  the  South  would  have  no  alternative 
l)ut  to  defend  her  homes  and  firesides,  slavery  and  all. 
1  myself  see  in  this  Avar,  if  the  Xortli  triumj)h,  a  disso- 
lution of  the  bonds  of  all  society.  It  is  not  alone  the 
destruction  of  our  property  (which  both  the  nation 
and  the  States  are  bound  to  protect),  but  it  is  the  prel- 
ude to  anarchy,  infidelity,  and  the  ultimate  loss  of 
free  responsible  government  on  this  continent.  With 
these  convictions,  I  alwavs  thouo-ht  ^ye  ou^ifht  to  meet 
tlie  Federal  invaders  on  the  outer  verge  of  just  right 
and  defence,  and  raise  at  once  the  black  flag,  viz., 
"  Xo  quarter  to  the  violators  of  our  homes  and  fire- 
sides I"  It  would  in  the  end  have  proved  true  human- 
ity and  mercy.  The  Bible  is  full  of  such  Avars,  and  it 
is  the  only  policy  that  would  bring  the  Xorth  to  its 
senses. 

'• '  But,'  he  continued,  '  I  see  now  clearly  enough 
the  people  of  the  South  Avere  not  prepared  for  sucli 
a  policy.  I  have  myself  cordially  acce])ted  the  policy 
of  our  leaders.  They  are  great  and  good  men.  Pos- 
sibly, too,  as  things  then  stood,  no  other  ])olicy  Avas 
left  open  to  us  than  the  one  pursued  by  Pi^esident 
Davis  and  General  Lee.  But  all  this  is  now  suddenly 
changed  by  the  cruel  and  utterly  barbarous  orders  of 
General  Pope,  Avho  is  not  only  subsisting  his  army 
on  the  people  of  Culpepper,  and  leA'ying  contributions 
upon  them,  but  has  laid  Avhole  communities  under 
the  pains  and  penalties  of  death  or  banishment  ;  and 
in  certain  cases  directed  that  liouses  shall  be  razed 
to  the  ground,  and  citizens  shot  Avithout  Avaiting  civil 
process. 


JACKSON'S   PLAN   OF   CAMPAIGN.  311 

•' '  This  new  phase  of  the  struggle  is  full  upon  us, 
and  General  Lee  is  in  great  perplexity  how  to  meet  it. 
I  have  just  had  a  conference  with  him  on  this  vital 
point.  Xo  plan  of  campaign  has  as  yet  been  agreed 
on.  But  I  gave  him  frankly  certain  outlines  of  my 
own  plan  of  waging  the  contest,  which  he  considered 
favorably,  and  which  he  promised  to  lay  before 
Mr.  Davis,  and  tny  to  secure  his  approval,  in  whole 
or  in  part.  In  which  event.  Captain,  I  expect  to 
need  your  services  here,  and  I  shall  have  to  order 
you  up.' 

"Thus  far  General  Jackson  had  given  me  no  clue 
to  his  own  plans  or  policy,  nor  did  I  venture  to  ask 
them.  But  he  suddenly  changed  his  tone,  and  with 
marked  directness  said  :  '  I  must  tell  you  now  why 
I  sent  for  you.  In  the  event  of  General  Lee  adopt- 
ing my  plan  of  operations,  I  shall  have  to  rely  very 
much  upon  the  cavalry  arm  of  the  service.  In  fact, 
mounted  troops  would  be  my  main  reliance ;  and  I 
wish  to  have  a  full  talk  with  you  in  regard  to  that 
arm  of  the  service.  I  have  lately  had  a  good  deal  of 
talk  with  General  Stuart  on  the  cavalr\^,  and  he  is 
high  in  his  praise  of  your  First  North  Carolina  Kegi- 
ment,  and  especially  yourself  and  your  company. 
He  is  delio'hted  at  the  bearino^  of  botli  vourself  and 
men  in  that  little  affair  at  Willis's  Church  the  other 
day,  and  has  called  for  a  full  report.  He  did  not 
think  any  mounted  troops  could  be  made  to  stand 
iirm  under  such  a  fire.  He  says  you  are  one  of  the 
few  civilian  oflBcers  thoroughly  imbued  with  the  im- 
portance of  cavalry  drill  and  discipline.  Kow,  I  wish 
to  know^  how  all  this  wonderful  efficiency  in  your 
regiment  has  been  brouglit  about  in  so  short  a  time, 


312  Llf'E   OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

and  in  such  an  early  stage  of  the  war.  I  wish  to 
know,  too,  something  of  t\iQ  j^f^'f'sonnel  of  your  officers. 
I  may  have  use  for  a  good  many  of  them.  I  under- 
stand, of  course,  that  much  of  all  this  is  due  to 
Colonels  Kansom  and  Baker,  regular  West-Pointers; 
but  I  have  some  prejudices  against  the  narrow  ideas 
of  the  old  army  officers,  and  I  seek  to  learn  how  the 
training  of  regular  soldiers  can  be  best  imparted  to 
the  high-strung  Southern  citizen  V 

"I  then  gave  him  the  full  details  of  our  organiza- 
tion, camp  methods,  and  the  esjrrit  de  corps  of  both 
men  and  officers.  He  beamed  with  delight,  and  an- 
swered :  '  You  are  fortunate  to  have  such  men  to 
command,  and  the  Confederacy  fortunate  to  have 
such  officers  to  lead  them.  AYith  such  troops  1  would 
not  hesitate  to  risk  a  march  even  to  Xew  York  or  to 
Chicago.' 

"  General  Jackson  then  told  me  in  confidence,  as 
a  Confederate  officer,  that  he  was  already  under 
marching  orders  to  move  against  Pope  in  Culpepper. 
'  But/  he  said  further,  '  General  Lee  is  now  consid- 
ering certain  special  features  of  my  war  polic}^  as 
applicable  to  the  present  emergency,  and  as  the 
onh^  way  to  check  Pope's  dastardly  system  of  Avar- 
fare  and  plunder.  Unfortunately,  the  Confederate 
authorities  are  fully  committed  to  a  different  policy 
—  in  fact,  to  a  very  stilted  style  of  waging  war. 
In  every  aspect  the  situation  is  embarrassing.  Mc- 
Clellan  is  nominally  in  command,  and  his  mode  of 
warfare  is  in  strict  conformity  to  the  usages  of  civ- 
ilized nations.  But  here  is  Pope,  right  under  the 
eye  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  violating  all  the  so-called  princi- 
ples of  modern  warfare,  and  manifestly  expecting  to 


SHOULD  NOT  ATTEMPT  TO  DEFEND  TOO  MUCH.       313 

supersede  JMcClellan  and  desolate  the  South.  With 
McClellan  on  one  side  of  Kichmond,  and  Pope  on 
the  other,  each  with  a  vast  army,  and  with  their  ap- 
parently opposing  policies,  it  is  impossible  to  choose 
your  own  special  plan  of  campaign  or  to  change 
your  general  military  methods.  But  General  Lee  is 
equal  to  whatever  emergency  may  arise,  and  I  trust 
implicitly  to  his  great  ability  and  superior  wisdom. 
All  I  can  say  is  that  he  has  (as  I  told  you)  heard 
certain  suggestions  of  mine,  and  has  promised  me  to 
consider  their  force  and  application,  if  circumstances 
permit.' 

"  General  Jackson  next  proceeded  to  give  in  full 
detail  his  ideas  of  the  war — the  general  policy  on 
which  the  South  should  (if  possible  even  now)  wage 
the  conflict  and  defend  its  people,  and  the  special 
plan  of  campaign  he  would  inaugurate  against  Pope 
and  the  cities  of  the  ]N"orth  : 

" '  As  to  a  general  policy,  I  think  it  unwise  to 
attempt  to  defend  the  whole  of  our  extended  lines, 
especially  our  extended  coast  and  water  line.  The 
enemy  largely  exceed  us  in  men  and  material  of  war, 
especially  in  naval  appliances,  and  our  limited  supply 
of  both  troops  and  munitions  of  war  would  ultimate- 
ly be  exhausted  in  a  prolonged,  gigantic  struggle. 
To  offset  their  palpable  advantage  in  this  respect,  I 
would  seek  to  utilize  the  special  points  in  which  the 
South  clearly  leads  the  North,  and  I  would  risk  the 
whole  issue  on  the  development  of  these  special 
characteristics,  and  the  war  policy  based  thereon. 
As  1  always  said,  my  own  first  policy  Avould  have 
been  the  black  flag  to  all  comers  against  the  safety 
of  our  Southern  homes.     Next  to  that,  I  would  give 


314      LIFE  OF  GEXKKAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

up,  as  circumstances  might  seem  to  require,  many 
exposed  points  and  all  untenable  positions,  and  grad- 
ually concentrate  our  choicest  fighting  men  and  most 
valualjle  material  at  a  few  strong  interior  camps, 
thoroughly  fortified,  and  so  located  as  best,  at  one 
and  the  same  time,  to  protect  our  communications, 
defend  our  people  and  territory  against  invasions  of 
the  enemy,  and  also  keep  up  ceaseless  aggressions 
upon  them.  These  counter-invasions  would  be  the 
main  feature  of  my  policy.  I  would  organize  our 
whole  available  fighting  force,  so  selected  and  locat- 
ed, into  two,  four,  or  more  light  movable  columns, 
specially  armed  and  trained  and  equipped  for  sudden 
moves  and  for  long  and  rapid  marches.  These  light 
movable  columns  I  would  hurl  against  the  enemy 
as  they  entered  our  borders ;  but  only  when  sure  of 
victory,  and  when  the  loss  of  an  army  was  impossible. 
But  better,  I  would  hurl  these  thunderbolts  of  war 
against  the  rich  cities  and  teeming  regions  of  our 
Federal  friends.  I  would  seek  to  avoid  all  regular 
battles.  I  would  subsist  my  troops,  as  far  as  pos- 
sible, on  the  ^Northern  people.  I  Avould  lay  heavy 
contributions  in  money  on  their  cities.  I  would  en- 
cumber my  marches  with  no  prisoners,  except  noted 
leaders,  held  mainly  as  hostages  for  ransom  or  for  re- 
taliation. All  the  rani;  and  file  I  would  jy^'^ole^  hut 
onlij  at  the  risk  of  life  f  the  jyarole  was  molated.  All 
this  just  as  Pope  is  doing  in  Xorthern  Virginia.  I 
Avould  train  and  practise  the  troops  with  special 
reference  to  the  tactics  of  ''Attack  and  Eetreat." 
Hut  })efore  turning  my  back  to  the  foe  or  the  enemy's 
country,  I  Avould  see  that  some  other  one  or  more  of 
these  ''  movable  columns ''  was  on  the  march,  and 


LIGHT    MOVABLE    COLUMNS.  315 

striking  at  some  other  vital  point — possibly  hundreds 
of  miles  away.  '  And  so  I  would  make  it  hot  for  our 
friends  at  tlielr  homes  and  firesides,  all  the  way  to 
Kansas — "  bleeding  Kansas ;"  and  doubly  so  for  Ohio 
and  Pennsylvania. 

••'This  programme  would,  of  course,  involve  giving 
up  much  of  our  territory,  and  some  large  cities  also, 
merely  taking  the  chance  of  crossing  tlie  ]\Iississippi 
and  other  navigable  streams.  But  it  would  save  the 
risk  of  losing  whole  armies  by  capture,  disease,  or 
death  in  battle.  My  whole  policy  would  aim  to  hus- 
band our  resources  of  men,  money,  and  material.  At 
first,  this  policy  might  not  have  been  so  easily  appre- 
ciated, but  now  our  people  begin  to  learn  something 
of  war.  More  important  still,  they  begin  to  realize 
the  scope  and  design  of  the  Abolition  element.  Ben 
Butler,  Fremont,  and  Pope  are  fast  opening  their 
eyes.  The  garrison  and  fortification  policy  has  lost 
us  whole  armies  at  Donaldson  and  elsewhere,  while 
the  malaria  of  the  oi'dinary  camp  and  the  coast  Avill 
soon  decimate  our  ranks,  and  possibly  break  the  spirit 
of  our  people.  We  have  just  gained  great  victories 
here  at  Eichmond,  and  our  troo2)s  would  now  rejoice 
at  the  hope  of  an  aggressive  movement.  That  ]node 
of  war  best  suits  the  temper  of  our  people  and  the 
dash  and  daring  of  the  Southern  soldier,  and  I  woukl 
right  now  seize  the  golden  moment  to  show  the  North 
what  they  may  expect. 

'* '  In  a  war  thus  waged,  the  cavalry  and  horse  artil- 
lery would  play  a  most  important  part.  In  fact,  in 
certain  operations  I  would  depend  almost  entirely 
on  mounted  troops.  The  one  vital  advantage  of  the 
South  lies  in  the  horsemanship  of  the  Southern  boy, 


316      LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

and  the  personal  courage  of  the  Southern  freeman. 
And  now  is  just  the  time  to  bring  it  to  bear.  See 
what  Stuart  has  done  in  sweeping  clear  around 
McClellan's  army. 

"  '  But  I  well  know  that  (Jeneral  Lee  is  not  at 
liberty  to  choose  his  own  policy  now.  In  three  hours 
I  may  be  on  the  march — possibly  to  flank  McClellan, 
but  more  likely  to  fight  Pope.  In  either  event,  the 
whole  army  may  be  put  in  motion,  and  no  one  can 
tell  \vhere  the  campaign  will  end.  But  if  the  two 
main  Federal  armies  remain  stationary,  and  we  can 
get  a  few  days  to  turn  around  in.  General  Lee  has 
assented  to  a  single  phase  of  my  policy,  so  far  as  to 
promise  me  the  organization  of  at  least  one  of  these 
"  light  movable  columns,"  and  with  it  I  am  to  make 
the  invasion,  of  course  only  at  such  point  as  may 
then  seem  open. 

" '  And  now,  my  dear  captain  and  brother,  I  have 
sent  for  you  to  say  that  in  such  a  contingency  I  shall 
need  3'our  services  in  some  high  position,  and  have 
ordered  you  up  here  to  have  a  full  conference  in 
regard  to  the  cavalry  arm  of  the  service,  and  espe- 
cially your  own  noble  regiment.' 

"  I  here  asked  General  Jackson,  in  case  he  should 
need  me,  in  what  way  he  thought  I  could  best  serve 
him.  He  answered  promptly  :  .'  In  such  a  movement  I 
would  seek  to  reorganize  my  whole  staff,  and  I  should 
want  you  as  quartermaster-general.'  This  toolc  me 
somewhat  by  surprise,  and  I  replied  frankly  that  I 
was  wholly  without  skill  or  experience  as  a  staff-officer, 
and  was,  besides,  under  a  sort  of  ]iledge  to  m}^  com- 
])any  and  their  friends  not  to  leave  them  except  by 
promotion    in    the    line.      lie    answered,    pointedly: 


IMPORTANCE   OF   A   GOOD  QUARTERMASTER.  3IY 

'Soldiers  can  give  no  such  pledges,  and  as  to  your 
want  of  military  training,  I  know  your  business  repu- 
tation, and  on  an  expedition  of  the  kind  suggested  a 
good  quartermaster  is  of  the  first  importance.  His  re- 
sponsibilities would  be  very  great ;  he  would  be  often 
called  on  to  decide  nice  questions  of  military  and  inter- 
national law,  and  in  emergencies  would,  besides,  have 
to  command  and  handle  troops.  My  present  quarter- 
master, Colonel  Harman,  is  all  I  could  desire  except 
in  these  last  particulars.  I  have,  too,  a  single  personal 
objection  to  the  Colonel — sometimes  he  will  sivear  P 
But,  laughing  outright,  he  added :  '  Captain,  they 
say  you  cursed  a  little  when  you  ordered  that  retreat 
at  Willis's  Church.  I  told  them,  however,  I  was  sure 
it  was  only  a  joke  they  had  on  you.  So,'  he  con- 
tinued, '  if  General  Lee  can  see  his  way  to  adopt  my 
polic}^  so  far  as  to  organize  a  light  movable  column 
of  forty  thousand  men,  and  I  am  put  in  charge  to 
try  this  special  mode  of  invasion,  I  will  order  you  up 
for  assignment.'  Thus  we  talked  on  to  a  very  late 
hour,  General  Jackson  often  repeating,  '  All  this  may 
come  to  naught.  If  McClellan  remains  in  command, 
such  a  policy  could  hardly  be  ventured  upon.  If 
Pope  invites  a  battle  and  we  beat  him,  the  ivJiole 
arm}^  may  have  to  pursue  him.  I  should  regret  this ; 
but  the  emergencies  of  war  often  leave  us  no  discre- 
tion. And  General  Lee  will  do  just  what  the  situa- 
tion requires.' 

"Finally,  we  both  dropped  into  a  sound  sleep,  from 
which  I  was  suddenly  aroused  towards  day  by  Jack- 
son calling  me,  and  saying  he  thought  he  heard 
cannon.  After  listening  a  few  moments,  we  each  con- 
cluded it  was  some  other  sound,  and  again  fell  asleep. 


318  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   THOMAS  J.  JACXSOX. 

'^  Xot  another  word  ever  passed  between  General 
Jackson  and  myself  on  this  subject.  A  few  days 
changed  all  the  conditions  on  which  he  had  hoped 
General  Lee  might  be  induced  to  adopt  either  his 
general  'war  policy'  or  his  '  special  plan  of  invasion/ 

'*  The  battle  of  Cedar  Run  forced  Pope  to  retreat, 
and  as  General  Lee  did  not  care  to  assault  the  heavy 
lines  and  fortifications  at  Centre ville,  he  Avas  virtu- 
ally left  no  alternative  but  to  make  the  invasion  of 
Maryland  with  the  army  as  then  organized.  And 
with  tliis  course  Jackson  seemed  fully  satisfied. 

"  I  next  met  him  at  the  close  of  the  campaign,  on 
the  night  of  the  terrible  slaughter  at  Sharpsburg, 
September  17th,  1862.  He  was  withdrawing  part  of 
his  lines,  for  a  little  repose,  towards  the  rear.  I  said, 
with  some  concern :  General,  isn't  our  army  pretty 
badly  worsted  to-night  ?  He  answered  :  *  Yes,  but 
oh  I  how  I'd  like  to  see  the  Yankee  camp  right  now  I' 
And  then  added,  with  a  twinkle  in  his  eye,  '  If  I  only 
had  my  '•  movable  column  I"  ' 

"I  saw  him  once  more  at  Martinsburg,  when  his 
troops  were  destroying  the  track  of  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  Eailroad,  with  the  depot  and  machine- 
shops. 

"  After  this  I  never  met  him  again.  AVhile  the  army 
Avas  at  Fredericksburg  in  the  winter  of  '02-'63,  we 
had  a  correspondence  in  regard  to  my  accepting  a 
position  on  the  'Military  Court.'  lie  Avas  greatly 
troubled  about  desertions,  and  the  want  of  discipline 
among  our  troops,  and  Avas  urging  me  to  go  on  that 
tribunal.  The  assignment  was  not  made ;  but  on  the 
13th  of  February,  1S63,  I  think  it  Avas  at  his  sugges- 
tion that  the  Virginia  Company  in  charge  of  the  large 


HOW  IT    SEEMS   NOW.  319 

army  stores  at  Hanover  Junction,  and  the  bridges 
near  them,  was  sent  back  to  its  command,  and  my 
company  ordered  to  that  important  army  depot. 
I  was  there  during  the  fights  at  Chancellorsville, 
and  it  became  my  duty  to  receive  and  forward  the 
despatch  from  General  Lee  announcing  at  the  same 
time  the  great  Confederate  victory  and  the  mortal 
wound  of  Jackson. 

''  The  telegraph  and  railroad  lines  were  at  this  time 
all  cut  by  the  Stoneman  Raiders,  and  I  only  succeeded 
in  getting  the  despatch  safely  through  by  sending 
reliable  couriers  on  fleet  horses  over  different  routes. 
But  in  a  very  few  days  the  shout  of  victor}^  was 
hushed  and  stilled  in  the  universal  wail  for  our  fallen 
chieftain. 

"  I  now  add  a  few  facts  and  reflections  proper 
to  a  full  understanding  of  the  whole  subject: 

"  1.  On  my  return  to  my  command  below  Eichmond, 
after  the  interview  with  General  Jackson,  I  was,  of 
course,  interrogated  somewhat  as  to  the  object  of  my 
visit  to  his  headquarters.  1  simply  stated,  what  was 
pretty  well  known,  that  he  was  my  brother-in-law, 
and  that  he  was  sounding  me  as  to  a  staff  position. 
I  think  I  stated  in  some  instances  that  he  thouoht  of 
me  as  his  quartermaster-general.  But  I  must  add 
that  General  Jackson  and  I  agreed  fully  on  the  sub- 
ject of  nepotism,  and  that  both  would  have  spurned 
the  idea  of  appointment  to  place  or  office  merely  be- 
cause of  kinship  or  connection. 

"  2.  In  all  he  said  to  me,  there  was  not  one  word  of 
antagonism  to  Mr.  Davis  or  the  Confederate  war  pol- 
icy. He  did  not  claim  that  the  2)olicy  was  errone- 
ous, or  that  his  would  be  more  likely  to  succeed.    But 


320  LIFE  OF   GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

it  was  a  momentous  question ;  and  as  the  struggle 
went  on,  new  considerations  arose,  whicli  his  intuitive 
military  mind  grasped  with  all  the  clearness  and 
force  of  genius.  But  he  well  knew  alike  his  place 
and  his  duty,  and  he  trusted  with  beautiful  faith  and 
hope  to  those  in  power  above  him,  and  to  the  guid- 
ance of  an  overruling  Providence  to  direct  all  for  the 
best. 

"  But  now,  after  the  lapse  of  nearly  a  generation 
since  the  conversation  occurred,  and  since  the  cause 
for  wliich  we  fought  went  down  in  disaster  and 
defeat,  I  think  it  my  duty  to  Stonewall  Jackson  to 
give  him  the  full  credit  of  the  strong  and  clear  con- 
victions that  he  entertained,  and  which  he,  and  he 
alone,  seems  to  have  had  the  courage  to  express. 
Possibly  neither  his  war  policy  nor  his  plan  of  in- 
vasion could  have  given  us  success  or  independence. 
But  we  can  now  realize  that  either  of  these  measures 
would  have  saved  us  the  fearful  losses  at  Sharps- 
burg,  Murfreesboro',  and  Pranklin,  and  the  capture 
of  w^hole  armies  at  Yicksburg  and  Port  Hudson.-' 

"Possibly  greater  disasters  than  even  these  Avould 
have  befallen  our  unfortunate  people  had  this  vigor- 
ous war  ])olicy  been  actually  adopted.  But  it  is  a 
high  compliment  to  the  modest  professor  at  Lexing- 
ton to  know  that,  when  the  supreme  moment  came 
for  President  Davis  and  General  Lee  to  decide  on 
the  last  and  only  chance  left  for  escape  and  ultimate 
success,  they  both  accepted,  practically,  this  '  movable- 
column  ]X)licy'  of  tiie  departed  Jackson,  as  laid  down 
by  him  July  14th,  18^2,  nearly  three  years  before  the 
catastro})lie  came.  When  General  Lee  gave  up  Eich- 
inond  and  Petersburg,  he  frankly  avowed  his  purpose 


WHAT  MIGHT  HAVE  BEEN.  321 

to  retire  to  the  strongholds  of  our  long  mountain  ranges, 
and  there  maintain  the  contest ;  while  Mr.  Davis,  in 
his  last  proclamation,  at  Danville,  uttered  these  words : 
'EeUeved  from  the  necessity  of  guarding  particular 
points,  our  army  will  be  free  to  move  from  point  to 
point,  to  strike  the  enemy  in  detail,'  and  'no  longer 
forego  opportunities  for  promising  enterprises.^  And 
it  is  well  known  that  the  great  strategist  of  the  Con- 
federacy, General  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  always  opposed 
the  garrison-and-fortification  policy  as  alike  exhausting 
and  dangerous. 

''Jackson  alone  stands  forth  the  one  advocate  of 
'ceaseless  invasion'  as  'our  safest  hope'  —  the  first 
conviction  of  his  mind,  and  a  policy  in  accord  with 
Southern  feeling,  and  which  might  have  heen  victo- 


21 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

CEDAR   RUN   AND   THE  SECOND   BATTLE   OF   MANASSAS. 

After  the  terrible  fatigues  of  the  campaign  around 
Richmond,  it  was  a  joyful  moment  when  Jackson  and 
his  troops  received  orders  (the  campaign  being  over) 
to  return  to  the  valley.  It  Avas  sad  to  think  that  they 
should  leave  thousands  of  their  comrades  behind 
them  to  sleep  their  last  sleep  near  the  city  which  they 
had  given  their  lives  to  defend.  Rut  they,  too,  had 
suffered  from  hardships  and  exposure.  Some  were 
just  out  of  the  hospital  walking  on  crutches,  or  with 
their  arms  in  slings ;  others  had  contracted  diseases 
as  deadly  as  wounds,  but  who  felt  new  life  from  the 
thought  of  exchanging  the  swamps  of  the  Chickahom- 
iny  for  the  bracing  air  of  their  native  mountains.  'No 
one  had  undergone  more  exposure  than  their  com- 
mander, who  had  slept  on  the  ground,  and  had  the 
coarse  fare  of  the  common  soldiers,  so  that  lie  and 
they  were  alike  in  the  highest  spirits  when  they  set 
out  on  their  return  march.  On  the  19th  of  July  they 
reached  Gordonsville,  from  which  Jackson  writes  to 
his  wife  : 

'*  I  liave  been  staying  for  a  few  days  with  Mrs. 
Barbour,  mother-in-law  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ewing,  of  our 
church,  and  luive  received  much  kindness  from  her 
and  her  three  daughters.  My  tent  opens  upon  the  Blue 


A   CHRISTIAN   HOUSEHOLD.  323 

Eidge  in  the  distance.     The  wagon-train  is  moving  in 
front." 

The  society  and  kindness  of  this  Christian  family 
were  exceedingly  congenial  and  refreshing  to  him, 
and  after  the  duties  of  the  day  ^vere  over  he  spent 
his  leisure  moments  in  their  home  circle,  enjoying 
their  hospitality,  and  amusing  himself  with  the  chil- 
dren of  the  household.  One  little  girl,  in  particular, 
he  made  a  special  pet  of,  often  taking  her  upon  his  knee 
and  caressing  her  until  she  grew  so  fond  of  him  that 
she  asked  him  one  day  to  give  her  as  a  keepsake  one 
of  the  bright  brass  buttons  from  his  coat  when  it  was 
worn  out.  Months  afterwards,  although  burdened 
with  the  most  anxious  and  weighty  cares  of  an  ardu- 
ous campaign,  he  did  not  forget  the  request,  and  sent 
the  promised  button,  which  the  delighted  child  pre- 
served as  one  of  her  greatest  treasures. 

General  Jackson  found  special  pleasure  in  joining 
Mr.  Ewing's  household  in  their  family  worship,  and 
w^henever  requested  would  conduct  prayers  himself. 
Mr.  Ewing  thus  describes  these  services :  "  There 
was  something  very  striking  in  his  prayers.  He  did 
not  pray  to  men,  but  to  God.  His  tones  were  deep, 
solemn,  tremulous.  He  seemed  to  realize  that  he  w^as 
speaking  to  Heaven's  King.  I  never  heard  any  one 
pray  who  seemed  to  be  pervaded  more  fully  by  a 
spirit  of  self-abnegation.  He  seemed  to  feel  more 
than  any  man  I  ever  knew  the  danger  of  robbing 
God  of  the  glory  due  for  our  success." 

After  spending  a  few  days  at  Gordonsville,  he 
changed  his  quarters  into  the  county  of  Louisa,  near 
by,  so  as  to  find  in  that  fertile  region  better  pastur- 


32i  Llt'E   OF   GENERAL   THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

asre  for  his  liorsos.  He  also  wished  to  be  more  retired 
and  devote  his  lime  to  reorganizing  his  command,  and 
frettiii"-  both  men  and  horses  into  better  condition  for 
futniv  service.  Just  before  this  move  he  wrote  from 
Gordonsville,  on  the  2Sth  of  July  : 

''  My  darling  Avife,  I  am  just  overburdened  Avith 
work,  and  I  hope  you  will  not  think  hard  at  receiving 
only  very  short  letters  from  your  loving  husband.  A 
number  of  officers  are  with  me,  but  people  keep  com- 
ing: to  mv  tent — thouofh  let  me  sav  no  more.  A 
Christian  should  never  complain.  The  apostle  Paul 
said,  '  1  glory  in  tribulations  !'  What  a  bright  ex- 
ample for  others  I" 

After  ascertaining  that  the  enemy  were  in  large 
force  under  General  Pope,  combining  the  united  com- 
mands of  Fremont,  Shields,  Banks,  and  McDowell, 
making  an  army  of  at  least  fifty  thousand  men,  Jack- 
son applied  to  General  Lee  for  reinforcements.  The 
division  of  A.  P.  Hill  was  immediateh^  sent  to  him, 
and,  with  this  accession  to  his  small  army,  Jackson 
had  no  intention  of  remaining  idle  or  of  awaiting  an 
attack  from  so  powerful  a  foe,  but  determined  to  strike 
a  blow  himself  before  the  enemy  had  time  to  concen- 
trate all  their  forces,  lie  therefore  advanced  tow- 
ards them  on  the  7th  of  August.  Before  taking  this 
step,  it  was  observed  that  he  was  much  in  prayer,  but 
this  was  his  custom  previous  to  every  battle.  Even 
upon  the  field  he  was  often  seen  to  lift  his  eyes  and 
raise  his  right  arm  as  if  in  earnest  prayer,  and  some- 
times it  seemed  that  Avhile  his  soul  was  thus  lifted  up 
in  sup])lication,  the  Lord  of  hosts  heard  and  answered, 
giving  him  the  victory. 


THE   BATTLE  OF   CEDAR   RUN.  325 

Pope's  army  was  gathering  in  all  its  strength  at 
Culpepper  Court-IIouse,  and  on  the  9th  of  August 
Jackson's  little  army  came  iu  contact  with  his  ad- 
vance-guard about  six  miles  from  the  Court-House,  on 
tlie  borders  of  a  little  stream  called  Cedar  Eun.  Here 
hostilities  began  by  a  furious  cannonade  on  both  sides, 
lasting  two  hours,  when,  about  five  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  the  infantry  of  both  armies  became  hotly 
eno:ao:ed.  The  conflict  was  fierce  and  stubborn,  but 
the  overwhelming  numbers  of  the  enemy  swept  down 
with  such  impetuosity  that  the  weaker  party  were 
forced  to  yield,  and  it  looked  as  if  it  were  doomed  to 
destruction.  Ewell,  Early,  A.  P.  Hill,  Winder,  and 
otlier  commanders  all  fought  their  bravest  and  best — 
the  gallant  AVinder  receiving  a  mortal  wound — and 
still  they  were  pressed  back.  "  It  was  at  this  fearful 
moment,"  says  his  late  chief -of -staff ,  Dr.  Dabne}^,  "that 
the  genius  of  the  storm  reared  his  head,  and  in  an 
instant  the  tide  was  turned.  Jackson  appeared  in  the 
mid-torrent  of  the  highway,  his  face  flaming  with  the 
inspiration  of  battle :  he  ordered  the  batteries  which 
Winder  had  placed  to  be  instantly  withdrawn  to  pre- 
serve them  from  capture  ;  he  issued  his  summons  for 
his  reserves ;  he  drew  his  own  sword  (the  first  time  in 
the  war),  and  shouted  to  the  broken  troops  with  a 
voice  which  pealed  higher  than  the  roar  of  battle  : 
'  Kally,  brave  men,  and  press  forward  I  Your  gen- 
eral will  lead  you  !  Jackson  will  lead  you  !  Follow 
me !'  This  appeal  was  not  in  vain,  and  the  Federals, 
startled  by  this  unexpected  rally,  were  driven  from 
the  field.  They  afterwards  made  an  attempt  to  re- 
trieve the  fortunes  of  the  day,  which  they  had  so 
nearly  won.  by  an  assault  from  a  mao^nificent  body  of 


32G  LIFE   OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

cavalr}',  but  even  this  was  repelled,  and  the  troopers 
driven  in  full  retreat." 

That  night  eTackson  bivouacked  with  his  troops. 
Finding  ev^ery  house  tilled  with  the  wounded,  he  de- 
clined to  enter,  saying  the  sufferers  needed  a  place  for 
rest  more  than  he  did.  He  was  so  utterly  worn  out 
that  he  threw  himself  upon  a  grass-plot — one  of  his 
staff  kindly  spreading  a  cloak  to  add  to  his  comfort 
— and  here,  underneath  the  star-lit  canopy  of  heaven, 
he  found  that  rest  and  sleep  which  his  wearied  frame 
so  much  demanded.  When  offered  food  his  reply  was : 
''  Ko,  I  want  rest,  nothing  but  rest  /" 

Two  days  after  the  battle  he  wrote  to  his  wife  : 

'*  On  last  Saturday  our  God  again  crowned  our 
arms  with  victory,  about  six  miles  from  Culpepper 
Court-House.  I  can  hardly  think  of  the  fall  of  Brig- 
adier-General C.  S.  Winder  without  tearful  eyes. 
Let  us  all  unite  more  earnestly  in  imploring  God's 
aid  in  fighting  our  battles  for  us.  The  thought  that 
there  are  so  many  of  God's  ])eople  praying  for  His 
blessing  upon  the  army  greatl}^  strengthens  and  en- 
courages me.  The  Lord  has  answered  their  prayers, 
and  my  trust  is  in  Him,  that  He  will  continue  to  do 
so.  H"  God  be  for  us,  who  can  be  against  us  ?  That 
He  will  still  be  with  us  and  give  us  victory  until  our 
independence  shall  be  established,  and  that  He  will 
make  our  nation  that  people  Avliose  God  is  the  Lord, 
is  my  earnest  and  oft -repeated  prayer.  While  we 
attach  so  much  imj)ortance  to  being  free  from  tem- 
poral bondage,  we  must  attach  far  more  to  being  free 
from  the  bondage  of  sin." 


THE  DEATH  OF  GENERAL  WINDER.       327 

This  battle  of  Cedar  Run  Jackson  himself  pro- 
nounced tlie  most  successful  of  his  exploits.  But  lie 
announced  it  to  his  commander-in-chief,  General  Lee, 
in  these  devout  and  modest  terms  : 

^'  August  11th,  G.30  A.  M.  On  the  evening  of  the 
9th,  God  blessed  our  arms  with  another  victory.  The 
battle  was  near  Cedar  Run,  about  six  miles  from 
Culpepper  Court -House.  The  enemy,  according  to 
statements  of  prisoners,  consisted  of  Banks'S,  McDow- 
elFs,  and  SigeFs  commands.  We  have  over  four  hun- 
dred prisoners,  including  Brigadier- General  Price. 
Whilst  our  list  of  killed  is  less  than  that  of  the  enemy, 
we  have  to  mourn  the  loss  of  some  of  our  best  officers 
and  men.  Brigadier-General  Charles  S.  Winder  was 
mortally  wounded  whilst  ably  discharging  his  duty  at 
the  head  of  his  command,  which  was  the  advance  of 
the  left  wing  of  the  army.  We  have  collected  about 
fifteen  hundred  small-arms  and  other  ordnance  stores." 

In  his  official  report,  he  pays  this  tribute  to  the 
late  commander  of  the  Stonewall  Brfgade,  the  brave 
General  Winder : 

"  It  is  difficult  within  the  proper  reserve  of  an  offi- 
cial report  to  do  justice  to  the  merits  of  this  accom- 
plished officer.  Urged  by  the  medical  director  to  take 
no  part  in  the  movements  of  the  day,  because  of  the 
enfeebled  state'of  his  health,  his  ardent  patriotism  and 
military  pride  could  bear  no  such  restraint.  Richly 
endowed  with  those  qualities  of  mind  and  person 
which  fit  an  officer  for  command,  and  which  attract 
the  admiration  and  excite  the  enthusiasm  of  troops, 


328     LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

he  was  rapidly  rising  to  the  front  rank  of  his  profes- 
sion.    His  loss  lias  been  severely  felt." 

The  report  closes  as  follo^ys  : 

"  In  order  to  render  thanks  to  Almighty  God  for 
the  victory  at  Cedar  Eun,  and  other  victories,  and 
to  implore  His  continued  favor  in  the  future,  divine 
service  was  held  in  the  army  on  the  14th  of  August." 

In  this  battle  the  Confederates  had  between  eigh- 
teen and  twenty  thousand  men  engaged.  Avhile  the 
Federals,  according  to  their  own  returns,  had  thirty- 
two  thousand.  Jackson,  however,  had  one  incalcu- 
lable advantage  over  the  enemy,  which  he  gained  by 
his  promptitude  in  seizing  and  holding  Slaughters 
Mountain  —  an  elevation  which  commanded  all  the 
surrounding  plains,  and  enabled  him  to  overlook  the 
whole  scene  of  action  as  it  lay  beneath  him.  and  to 
pour  down  the  volleys  of  his  artillery  upon  tlie  foe, 
while  his  own  gunners  were  secure  from  a  returning 
fire,  in  consequence  of  the  elevation  of  their  position. 
It  was  to  the  advantage  of  this  position  as  well  as 
the  bravery  of  his  troops  that  he  was  indebted  for  his 
complete  success. 

By  this  victory  Pope  received  such  a  blow  that  he 
was  deterred  from  making  another  advance  until  he 
could  gather  reinforcements.  Burnside's  corps  was 
withdrawn  from  North  Carolina  and  sent  on  to  Cul- 
})epper  Court-IIouse,  and  it  was  believed  that  JMcClel- 
lan's  remaining  forces  would  be  recalled  from  James 
River  and  sent  also  to  swell  the  ranks  of  the  grand 
"  Army  of  Virginia,"  as  the  command  of  Pope  was 


OUTLOOK  FROM  THE  TOP  OF  CLARKE'S  MOUNTAIN.      329 

called.  At  all  events,  General  Lee  was  convinced 
that  ]McClellan  was  incapable  of  further  aggression, 
and  that  the  most  effective  way  to  dislodge  him  from 
the  Peninsula  was  to  threaten  Washington  !  He 
therefore  determined  to  move  his  army  from  Rich- 
mond to  Gordonsville.  He  began  his  march  on  the 
13th,  and  four  days  after,  on  the  ITth,  McClellan 
evacuated  the  Peninsula  and  removed  his  troops  to 
the  Potomac. 

On  the  15th,  as  soon  as  the  troops  from  Eich- 
mond  began  to  arrive,  Jackson  left  Gordonsville,  and 
marched  to  the  base  of  Clarke's  Mountain,  on  a  peak 
of  which  he  had  established  a  signal  station,  which 
commanded  a  vie\v  of  the  enemy's  encampment  along 
the  Orange  Railroad.  After  General  Lee  joined  him, 
with  their  united  forces  he  was  most  impatient  to 
push  on  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy  on  the  18th,  and  cut 
off  his  line  of  retreat ;  but  General  Lee,  owing  to  the 
dilatoriness  of  a  part  of  his  subordinates,  deemed  it 
best  to  restrain  Jackson's  impetuosity,  and  postponed 
the  advance  until  the  20th,  to  give  his  troops  more 
time  for  preparation.  By  this  delay  the  success  of 
Jackson's  design  was  frustrated,  for  on  the  night 
of  the  18th  the  Federals  obtained  information  from 
a  party  of  colored  deserters  from  the  Confederate 
camp  which  so  alarmed  them  that  the  next  day, 
when  General  Lee  ascended  Clarke's  Mountain  to 
take  a  look  at  their  encampment,  he  saw  their  tents 
gradually  disappearing,  and  the  work  went  steadily 
on  until  the  whole  of  Pope's  vast  army  "  folded  their 
tents  like  the  Arabs,  and  silently  stole  away !"  The 
object  of  Pope  was  to  place  the  Rappahannock  be- 
tween himself  and  his  pursuers.     General  Lee  now 


330  I^IFE   OF  GENERAL  THOMAS   J.  JACKSON. 

hastened  to  pursue,  and  at  an  early  hour  on  the 
morninir  of  tlie  !^(»th  the  whole  Confederate  army 
was  put  in  motion.  General  Stuart's  splendid  division 
of  cavalry,  with  its  usual  daring-,  dashed  across  the 
Itaii})ahannock,  and  after  skinnisliing  a  few  hours 
and  capturing  some  prisoners,  returned  to  report 
Pope's  whole  army  massed  upon  the  northern  bank 
of  the  Eappahannock,  with  a  powerful  artillery  pre- 
pared to  dispute  the  passage  of  General  Lee.  His 
position  on  that  side  of  the  river  was  far  more  safe 
and  defensible  than  when  Jackson  proposed  to  attack 
him  on  the  ISth.  General  Lee  now  ordered  Jackson 
to  cross  the  Eappahannock  high  up,  and  by  a  forced 
march  go  to  Manassas  and  get  in  Po]ie's  rear.  Other 
divisions  were  sent  to  Pope's  front,  and  the  two  hos- 
tile armies  marched  along  on  either  side  of  the  stream, 
opening  fire  upon  each  other  whenever  the  opportunity 
offered.  Jackson  continued  his  march  up  stream  until 
he  reached  AVarrenton  Springs,  on  the  22d,  where  he 
found  the  bridge  destroyed,  but  he  passed  Early's  bri- 
gade over  on  a  mill-dam,  and  took  possession  of  the 
Springs.  Before  other  troops  could  be  crossed  to  his 
support,  a  sudden  and  heavy  rain -fall  swelled  the 
river  so  as  to  render  it  impassable,  and  Early  was 
thus  cut  off  from  his  friends  and  surrounded  by  the 
enemy.  His  situation  Avas  one  of  extreme  peril,  but  he 
managed  to  conceal  his  troops  in  the  woods,  and  hold  his 
foes  at  bay  with  artillery,  until  Jackson  liad  construct- 
ed a  temporary  bridge,  and  by  the  dawn  of  the  morn- 
ing of  the  24th  the  gallant  Early,  Avitli  his  command, 
had  recrossed  the  river  without  the  loss  of  a  man. 

While  a  fierce  artillery  duel  was  soinff  on  across 
the  river  between  A.  P.  Hill  and  the  enemy,  Jack- 


GETTING  BETWEEN   TOPE  AND   WASHINGTON.        33I 

son  left  the  river-bank  a  few  miles,  and  marched  to 
the  village  of  Jeffersonton.  He  was  thns  lost  sight 
of  by  the  Federals,  and  to  Longstreet  was  given 
the  task  of  amusing  Pope  by  the  appearance  of  a 
crossing  at  Warren  ton  Springs.  Jackson  was  now 
preparing  to  obey  Lee's  order  to  separate  himself 
from  the  rest  of  the  army,  pass  around  Pope  to 
the  westward,  and  place  his  corps  between  him  and 
Washington  at  Manassas  Junction.  Leaving  behind 
him  all  his  trains,  except  ambulances  and  carriages 
for  ammunition,  and  making  a  hasty  issue  of  rations,  he 
started  from  Jeffersonton  early  on  the  morning  of  the 
25th  of  August.  On  that  day  he  wrote  a  hurried  note 
to  his  wife,  not  alluding  to  his  movements,  but  saying : 

'•  The  enemy  has  taken  a  position,  or  rather  several 
positions,  on  the  Fauquier  side  of  the  Rappahannock. 
I  have  only  time  to  tell  you  how  much  I  love  my 
little  pet  dove." 

Although  his  troops  had  been  constantly  marching 
and  fighting  for  five  days,  and  subsisting  upon  insuffi- 
cient rations,  supplemented  by  the  green  corn  of  the 
fields  along  their  route,  yet  they  did  not  lose  their 
enthusiasm  and  devotion  to  their  indefatigable  leader. 
Towards  the  close  of  the  day  he  had  gone  in  ad- 
vance of  the  column,  and,  dismounting,  had  stepped 
upon  a  large  stone  by  the  roadside,  probably  to  in- 
spect his  arm}^  as  they  passed  by.  As  he  stood  upon 
this  elevation,  with  uplifted  cap,  the  sunset  glow  ir- 
radiating his  noble  face  and  figure,  his  men,  as  they 
caught  sight  of  him,  began  to  cheer,  but  he  quickly 
indicated  by  a  gesture  that  silence  must  be  preserved, 


332  I^IFE   OF   GENERAL   THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 

in  order  not  to  betray  their  presence  to  the  enemy, 
Down  the  cohnnn  Avere  passed  the  words,  ''No 
cheering,  l)oys;  the  general  re(]uests  it,"  and  the  com- 
mand was  instantly  obeyed  ;  ])ut  as  the  soldiers  passed 
their  general,  they  waved  their  caps  in  the  air,  and 
their  eyes  bespoke  the  cheer  which  their  lips  had 
been  forbidden  to  utter.  As  the  columns  marched  by 
in  this  loyal  and  devoted  spirit,  General  Jackson 
turned  to  his  staff,  with  a  face  beaming  with  pleasur- 
able emotion,  and  exclaimed  :  "  Who  could  not  con- 
quer with  such  troops  as  these?" 

Thus  always,  whatever  his  army  achieved,  his  mod- 
esty led  liim  to  ascribe  it  to  his  brave  men,  feeling 
liimself  to  be  but  an  hum])le  instrument  in  the  hand 
of  God. 

With  such  a  leader  to  inspire  them,  Jackson  s  corps 
marched  fifty  miles  in  two  days,  capturing  all  their 
supplies  from  the  enemy,  and  reached  Bristol  Station, 
by  which  they  accomplished  their  object,  that  of 
placing  themselves  between  Pope  and  Washington — 
a  perilous  j)osition,  as  they  were  now  cut  off  from 
General  Lee,  with  the  whole  of  Pope's  army  in  their 
front.  General  Stuart,  with  his  cavalry,  was  guard- 
ing the  right  flank,  and  his  promptness  and  efficiency 
were  invaluable  to  Jackson,  enabling  him  to  carry  out 
his  plans  of  secrecy  and  rapidity  of  movement.  Upon 
arriving  at  Bristol  Station,  the  first  object  of  Jackson 
was  to  get  possession  of  the  vast  stores  of  the  enemy 
at  Manassas  Junction,  four  miles  farther  north.  So 
much  did  he  realize  this  necessity  that  he  determined 
to  press  on  that  night,  and  not  to  wait  until  morning, 
and  thus  give  the  enemy  time  to  destroy  the  stores. 
So  completely  were  his  brave  sokliers  in  sympathy 


CAPTURE  OF  ARMY   STORES.  333 

with  him  that  General  Trimble,  with  his  Twenty-first 
North  CaroUna  and  Twenty-first  Georgia  regiments, 
volunteered  for  this  service,  and,  supported  by  a  de- 
tachment of  Stuart's  cavalry,  with  Stuart  himself  in 
command  of  the  whole,  the  work  was  undertaken, 
and  resulted  in  complete  success.  The  Confederates 
captured  all  the  vast  stores,  consisting  of  every- 
thing which  their  army  needed,  took  several  hundred 
prisoners,  two  hundred  and  fifty  horses,  with  im- 
mense commissary  and  quartermaster's  supplies.  To 
this  disaster  Pope  ascribed  his  defeat  in  the  three 
days'  sanguinary  struggle  which  ensued  upon  the 
plains  of  Manassas,  alleging  that  his  army  had  been 
compelled  to  fight  without  sufiicient  rations  and  am- 
munition. 

On  the  morning  of  the  2Tth,  Jackson  went  to  the 
relief  of  Trimble,  who  had  been  all  night  under  arms, 
taking  a  part  of  his  command,  and  leaving  the  rest  to 
watch  Pope,  with  orders  to  rejoin  him,  if  necessary, 
at  Manassas.  Almost  immediately  after  Jackson's 
arrival  upon  the  scene,  a  Federal  detachment  began 
an  attack,  but,  mistaking  the  strength  of  the  Con- 
federates, were  soon  compelled  to  retire  in  confusion. 
Their  own  guns  were  captured  and  turned  against 
them,  making  such  havoc  in  their  ranks  that  Jack- 
son's heart  was  moved  with  compassion,  and  he 
dashed  forward  alone,  at  the  risk  of  his  life,  and 
waved  a  white  handkerchief,  as  a  signal  of  truce  to 
them  to  accept  quarter.  The  reply  to  this  was  a 
volley  from  their  guns,  and,  seeing  his  offer  refused, 
he  hastened  back  to  his  men  and  ordered  them  to 
proceed  with  their  work.  The  opposing  force  Avas 
quickly  overcome;    the     commander     fell    mortally 


334:     LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

wounded  and  was  left  upon  the  field,  while  his  men 
were  ])ursued  and  scattered. 

Jackson  now  gave  his  troops  a  short  rest,  and  per- 
mitted them  to  refresh  themselves  with  the  rich  spoils 
which  they  had  captured  from  the  enemy.  As  it  was 
impossible  for  them  to  remove  all  these  vast  stores, 
the  men  Avere  allowed  to  help  themselves  to  all  that 
they  conld  consume  and  carry  away,  and  the  remain- 
der was  destroyed,  to  prevent  its  falling  again  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy.  The  new  clothing,  boots,  hats, 
and  tempting  eatables  were  a  rare  treat  to  the  hungry 
soldiers,  who  had  marched  twenty -five  and  thirty 
miles  a  day,  and  had  fed  principally  on  green  corn 
and  apples  gathered  by  the  way.  Bnt  after  a  few 
hours  of  this  high  carnival,  they  had  again  to  buckle 
on  their  armor.  The  forces  which  Jackson  had  left 
at  Bristol  Station  under  Ewell  had  been  attacked, 
and  after  a  brave  resistance  had  been  withdrawn  to 
join  Jackson  at  Manassas.  This  was  in  obedience  to 
Jackson's  order,  and  was  managed  with  so  much  skill 
that  not  a  single  man  was  captured  in  the  retreat ; 
the  stream  separating  Bristol  from  Manassas  was 
safely  crossed,  and  the  railroad  bridge  was  burned. 
One  division  was  sent  that  night  across  the  Warrenton 
and  Alexandria  Turnpike,  and  halted  near  the  battle- 
field of  the  first  jManassas.  The  next  morning,  the  2Sth, 
the  two  remaining  divisions,  after  marching  in  differ- 
ent directions,  joined  the  first,  and  Stuart's  cavalry, 
after  making  a  circuit  as  far  as  Fairfax  Court-IIouse, 
was  also  brought  up  on  the  fianks  of  the  infantry, 
and  the  whole  command  was  now  concentrated  north 
of  the  Warrenton  Turn])ike.  The  left  w^ing  rested  on 
Bull  Itun,  the  right  extended  towards  the  road  lead- 


LOXGSTREET  COMING  TO  HIS  SUPPORT.      335 

ing  from  Thorouglifare  Gap,  through  which  Long- 
street,  Avith  his  corps,  was  expected  to  come  up  to 
the  support  of  Jackson. 

Thus  far  Jackson  had  been  entirely  successful  in 
executing  the  instructions  of  General  Lee  in  placing 
his  corps  between  Pope  and  the  Federal  capital,  but 
his  position  was  becoming  more  and  more  critical ;  for 
if  Longstreet,  by  any  reason,  should  fail  in  coming  up 
to  time,  there  was  danger  of  Jackson's  small  army 
of  only  eighteen  thousand  men  being  crushed  by  the 
sheer  w^eight  of  the  greatly  superior  numbers  of  the 
whole  Federal  army,  which  he  had  drawn  upon 
himself  through  liis  daring  and  rapid  movement. 
Scarcely  had  he  completed  the  disposition  of  his 
troops,  when  the  enemy  were  discovered  to  be  advanc- 
ing along  the  Warrenton  turnpike  in  heavy  force. 
Suspecting  that  they  might  be  retreatmg  to  Alex- 
andria to  avoid  an  engagement,  Jackson  determined 
to  attack  them,  even  at  the  risk  of  his  own  safety. 
He  had  no  idea  of  letting  the  enemy  escape  him,  and 
he  lost  no  time  in  striking  them  on  the  flank  as  they 
passed,  thereby  arresting  their  march  and  compelling 
them  to  come  to  a  stand.  The  Confederate  batteries, 
having  an  elevated  position,  opened  such  a  fierce 
cannonade  that  the  enemy  w^ere  forced  to  return  it, 
and  a  short  time  before  sunset  a  furious  and  bloody 
battle  began,  and  continued  until  about  nine  o'clock, 
wdien  the  enemy  retired  under  cover  of  darkness, 
leaving  the  field  in  the  possession  of  the  Confederates. 
In  this  engagement  two  of  General  Jackson's  major- 
generals,  Ewell  and  Taliaferro,  w^ere  wounded  ;  the 
former  losing  a  leg,  but  he  was  subsequently  able  to 
resume  his  command. 


336  I^IFE   OF  GENERAL  THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 

On  the  morninir  of  the  29th  Jackson  discovered  that 
the  enemy  were  preparing  to  give  battle,  and,  if  possi- 
ble, crush  him  l)efore  he  could  receive  reinforcements. 
To  both  officers  and  men  the  danger  of  their  situation 
was  so  imminent  that  all  eyes  were  anxiously  turned 
towards  Thoroughfare  Gap,  to  see  Longstreet  coming 
to  their  relief.  Early  in  the  morning  clouds  of  dust  in 
that  direction  raised  their  hopes,  but  it  proved  to  be  a 
body  of  the  enemy  who  had  occupied  that  pass  the 
day  before  for  the  purpose  of  intercepting  Longstreet's 
passage,  and  were  now  retiring  to  Bristol.  At  ten 
o'clock  Jackson's  right  flank  was  attacked  by  a  heavy 
cannonade  from  the  enemy's  batteries,  which  was  re- 
turned Avitli  ]iromptness  and  spirit.  A  general  and 
terrible  conflict  now  threatened,  and  Jackson's  lines, 
thouo'h  thinned  bv  battle  and  almost  exhausted  bv 
their  extraordinary  exertions,  yet  stood  heroically  at 
bay.  Soon,  however,  their  anxious  hopes  were  real- 
ized when  Stuart's  couriers  came  dashing  up  and  an- 
nounced the  ap})roach  of  Longstreet.  Already  great 
clouds  of  dust  were  seen  arising  over  Thoroughfare 
Gap,  and  the  expected  troops,  stimulated  by  the  sound 
of  the  cannonading,  were  hurrying  forward  to  the 
relief  of  their  struggling  comrades.  Stuart  conducted 
them  in  safety  to  Jackson,  and  the  union  of  the  two 
corps  was  effected,  and  infused  new  life  and  spirit 
into  the  whole  Confederate  ranks.  After  Longstreet's 
arrival,  the  enemy  changed  position,  and  the  battle 
continued  for  many  hours  with  stubborn  and  relent- 
less fui-y  on  both  sides.  The  Federals  displayed  great 
valor,  six  times  rushing  forward  in  separate  and  deter- 
mined assaults,  but  were  each  time  repulsed.  About 
two  o'clock  thev  hurled  their  masses  of  infantry  with 


SECOND   DAY   OF   THE   BATTLE.  337 

perfect  desperation  against  Jackson's  wing,  but,  as  line 
after  line  advanced  to  close  quarters,  it  was  only  to 
be  mowed  down  and  driven  baclv  in  dismay  and  con- 
fusion. The  conflict  raged  until  many  of  the  Confed- 
erate infantry  had  exhausted  their  cartridges  ;  but  they 
declared  they  would  hold  their  position  with  the  bay- 
onet, and  some  of  them  did  thus  hold  it,  wdiile  others 
seized  the  stones  of  tlie  field  and  fought  with  them. 
AVhile  Jackson's  corps  was  struggling  against  these 
furious  onslaughts,  Longstreet  was  engaged  in  equally 
severe  and  bloody  work  in  resisting  the  forces  that 
were  brought  against  him.  The  army  of  Pope  was 
reinforced  by  a  corps  of  McClellan  from  the  Penin- 
sula, and  with  this  new  enemy  Longstreet  Avas  engaged 
until  nine  o'clock  at  night,  driving  back  his  assailants 
and  capturing  a  number  of  prisoners  and  trophies. 
Darkness  then  closed  this  second  day  of  carnage,  and 
the  weary  Confederates  slept  upon  their  arms,  in  pos- 
session of  the  lines  which  they  had  so  gallantly  held. 

That  nio-ht,  when  Jackson  and  his  staff  came  too-ether 
for  a  few  hours'  sleep  under  the  open  sky,  their  pale 
faces  did  not  indicate  the  success  of  the  day,  for  their 
hearts  were  heavy  with  sorrow  at  the  fall  of  many  of 
the  best  and  bravest  of  their  army,  and  around  them, 
in  the  darkness,  lay  the  wounded  and  dying.  Wearied 
and  sad,  they  spoke  but  little  beyond  inquiries  and 
remarks  concerning  the  occurrences  of  this  event- 
ful day.  The  medical  director,  Doctor  McGuire,  in 
speaking  of  the  terrible  conflict,  said :  '•  General,  this 
day  has  been  w^on  by  nothing  but  stark  and  stern  fight- 
ing." "IS^o,"  replied  Jackson,  "it  has  been  won  by 
nothing  but  the  blessing  and  protection  of  Provi- 
dence." After  the  fatigues  and  horrors  of  the  day 
22 


338  I^IFE   OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

were  over,  tlie  eliaplains,  who  had  occupied  themselves 
in  carinj^  tor  the  wounded,  collected  in  groups  all  the 
men  that  could  be  found  off  duty,  and  led  them  in 
prayer  and  praise  to  the  Captain  of  their  salvation. 
Before  another  sun  had  set,  many  of  these  worshippers 
were  among  the  throng  around  the  great  white  throne. 

General  Lee,  having  ari*ived  with  Longstreet  upon 
the  scene  of  action,  the  morning  of  the  30tli  found  the 
commander-in-chief  at  the  head  of  his  army,  upon  the 
ground  which  his  subordinates  had  so  stoutly  held 
against  all  the  assaults  of  the  previous  day,  and  calm- 
ly awaiting  the  attack.  Jackson  held  the  left  wing, 
Longstreet  the  right,  and  the  artillery  occupied  an  ele- 
vated ridge  in  the  centre,  commanding  the  fronts  of 
both  wings. 

The  Confederates  stood  solely  upon  the  defensive, 
and  possessed  such  advantages  in  position  that  it  might 
be  said  the  battle  was  won  before  it  was  fought.  The 
Federals  showed  their  wisdom  in  delaying  hostilities 
until  late  in  the  afternoon.  The  morning  was  marked 
by  only  an  occasional  cannonade  upon  different  por- 
tions of  the  Confederate  lines,  with  slight  skirmishes, 
and  the  great  attack  was  not  made  until  four  o'clock. 
Then  the  struggle  began  in  earnest  —  the  Federals 
making  a  most  gallant  charge — three  lines  advancing 
in  dense  masses,  and  dashing  like  great  billows  against 
their  opponents.  As  each  line  recoiled  before  the 
murderous  fire  with  which  it  was  met,  another  fol- 
lowed with  still  more  determination,  and  the  struira'le 
I'aged  with  furious  desperation,  until  the  Confederates 
exhausted  their  ammunition. 

For  about  half  an  hour  the  brunt  of  the  battle  was 
borne  by  Jackson's  lines,  and  finding  them  wavering 


THIRD    DAY   OF   THE   BATTLE.  339 

at  several  points,  Longstreet  was  ordered  to  his  assist- 
ance. But  before  the  order  was  received,  Longstreet, 
perceiving  and  embracing  an  opportunity  of  pouring 
his  artillery  into  the  advancing  ranks,  turned  the  tide 
against  them.  This  gave  the  Confederates  time  to 
rally,  and  they  dashed  forward  with  renewed  enthu- 
siasm and  vigor.  Both  of  their  wings  were  ordered 
to  close  in  upon  the  foe,  while  the  artillery  dealt  a 
deadly  and  terrific  fire  into  his  lines,  causing  them  to 
break  just  as  darkness,  intensified  by  the  smoke  of 
battle  and  an  impending  storm,  gathered  over  the  ter- 
rible scene.  At  ten  o'clock  the  third  day  of  this  great 
battle  came  to  an  end,  and  the  wearied  Confederates 
lay  down  to  seek  rest  upon  a  victorious  field,  but 
found  only  a  watery  bivouac  under  the  beating  of  a 
continuous  rain,  while  all  night  long  was  heard  the 
tramp  of  the  enemy  retreating  to  the  heights  of  Cen- 
tre vi  lie. 

In  this  three  days'  battle  the  Confederate  loss  was 
very  heavy,  but  the  battle-field  revealed  the  fact  that 
that  of  the  Federals  was  far  greater.  Their  surgeons, 
under  a  flag  of  truce,  ministered  to  the  wounded, 
many  days  being  consumed  in  the  work,  and  num- 
bers of  lives  were  sacrificed  by  delay  in  receiving 
attention.  The  estimate  was  that  in  this  series  of 
battles  the  total  Confederate  loss  was  about  seventy- 
five  hundred  men,  eleven  hundred  of  whom  were  slain 
upon  the  field.  Jackson's  proportion  of  the  loss  in 
officers  and  men  greatly  exceeded  that  of  the  rest  of 
the  army,  in  consequence  of  his  fighting  the  first  day 
without  the  support  of  reinforcements,  and  subse- 
quently the  enemy  seemed  to  select  his  lines  chiefly 
as  the  points  of  the  most  furious  attacks.     In  all  the 


;340  LIFE   OF  (JEXERAL   THOMAS  J.  JACKSON'. 

long  struggle  lie  lost  only  thirty-five  men  by  ca])ture, 
Avhile  the  prisoners  on  the  other  side  were  estimated 
at  seven  thousand,  in  addition  to  two  thousand  left 
wounded  upon  the  battle-field.  Twenty  thousand 
small-arms,  thirty  pieces  of  artillery,  numerous  colors, 
and  a  large  amount  of  army  stores  fell  into  the  hands 
of  the  Confederates.  In  reviewing  the  whole,  Jack- 
son thus  closes  his  report : 

''  For  these  great  and  signal  victories  our  sincere 
and  humble  thanks  are  due  unto  Almighty  God.  We 
should  in  all  things  acknowledge  the  hand  of  Him 
who  reigns  in  heaven  and  rules  among  the  armies  of 
men.  In  view  of  the  arduous  labors  and  great  priva- 
tions the  troops  were  called  to  endure,  and  the  isolated 
and  perilous  position  which  the  command  occupied 
while  engaged  with  greatly  superior  numbers  of  the 
enemy,  Ave  can  l)ut  express  the  grateful  conviction 
that  God  was  with  us,  and  gave  us  the  victory ;  and 
unto  His  holy  name  be  all  the  praise." 

Dr.  Dabney  says :  "  Few  words  are  needed  to  point 
out  the  share  which  Jackson  and  his  corps  merited 
in  the  glory  of  the  second  victory  of  Manassas,  To 
the  rapidity  of  his  march,  the  promptitude  and  skill 
of  his  action  in  seizing  and  destroying  the  Junc- 
tion, the  wisdom  which  guided  his  selection  of  a  posi- 
tion, and  the  heroic  tenacity  with  which  he  held  it 
against  feai'ful  odds  until  the  arrival  of  General  Lee, 
was  th(?  splendid  result  chiefly  due.  It  was  so  or- 
dered as  if  to  illustrate  the  superior  prowess  of  the 
Confederate  soldiery,  that  in  this  battle  the  positions 
of  the  combatants  in  July,  lsr)l,  were  almost  precisely 


"GOD  GAVE  US   THE   VICTORY!"  341 

reversed.  The  ground  held  by  Jackson  in  the  second 
battle  was  that  held  by  McDowell  in  the  first ;  and 
tlie  ground  from  which  the  Confederates  drove  Pope 
at  nightfall,  the  30th  of  August,  was  that  from  which 
McDowell  could  not  drive  them  on  the  21st  of  July ; 
while  the  preponderance  of  numbers  was  still  upon 
the  Federal  side/' 

On  the  1st  of  September  General  Jackson  wrote  to 
his  wife : 

"  We  were  engaged  with  the  enemy  at  and  near 
Manassas  Junction  Tuesday  and  Wednesday,  and  again 
near  the  battle-field  of  Manassas  on  Thursday,  Friday, 
and  Saturday ;  in  all  of  which  God  gave  us  the  vic- 
tory. May  He  ever  be  with  us,  and  we  ever  be  His 
devoted  people,  is  my  earnest  prayer.  It  greatly  en- 
courages me  to  feel  that  so  many  of  God's  people  are 
praying  for  that  part  of  our  force  under  my  com- 
mand. The  Lord  has  answered  their  prayers ;  He  has 
again  placed  us  across  Bull  Run;  and  I  pray  that 
He  will  make  our  arms  entirel}^  successful,  and  that 
all  the  glory  will  be  given  to  His  holy  name,  and 
none  of  it  to  man.  God  has  blessed  and  preserved 
me  through  His  great  mercy.  On  Saturday,  Colonel 
Baylor  and  Hugh  White  were  both  killed,  and  Willie 
Preston  was  mortally  wounded." 

Hugh  White  was  the  son  of  his  pastor,  a  candidate 
for  the  ministry,  and  was  one  of  the  purest  and  no- 
blest of  characters,  as  was  also  young  Preston,  who 
combined  great  beauty  of  youthful  manhood  with 
fervent  piety  and  the  brightest  promise.     They  were 


342     I'lI-'E  <^>l''  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

botli  Lexington  Ijovs,  from  General  Jackson's    own 
church,  and  sons  of  his  dearest  friends. 

On  the  morning  of  the  1st  of  September,  General 
Jackson's  soldiers  arose  from  the  wet  ground,  cold  and 
comfortless,  and,  after  refreshing  themselves  with  food 
and  warmth  from  camp-fires,  were  ordered  to  march. 
Longstreet  was  to  remain  to  bury  the  dead  and  gath- 
er up  the  spoils.  Stuart  repoi'ted  the  enemy  as  hav- 
ing raUied  upon  tlie  heights  of  Centre ville,  and  occu- 
])ying  a  ])owerful  hne  of  works,  capable  of  defence 
either  in  front  or  rear,  which  General  Joseph  E. 
Johnston  had  constructed  the  first  winter  of  the  war. 
Here  Pope's  shattered  army  had  taken  refuge,  and, 
with  large  reinforcements  from  McClellan,  once  more 
presented  a  front,  and  General  Jackson  was  directed 
to  turn  their  position,  and,  if  possible,  compel  them 
to  retreat  without  a  battle.  To  accomplish  this,  he 
marched  through  circuitous  country  roads,  which 
brought  him  up  far  in  the  rear  of  Centreville.  As 
soon  as  the  enemy  perceived  this  unexpected  mov^e- 
]nent,  they  resumed  their  retreat,  but  upon  approach- 
ing Fairfax  Court -House  they  found  Jackson  pre- 
pared to  attack  them.  A  sudden  and  spirited  engage- 
ment, known  as  that  of  Ox  Hill,  took  place,  the  enemy 
making  such  a  brave  and  desperate  resistance  that 
at  last  victory  seemed  almost  within  their  grasp ;  but 
after  a  short  and  bloody  struggle  the  tide  again  turn- 
ed, and  they  once  more  took  up  their  line  of  retreat, 
and  disappeared  in  the  darkness. 


CHAPTER  XYIII. 

MARYLAND   CAMPAIGN    AND    SHARPSBURG— 1862. 

The  invaders  had  now  retreated  in  full  force  from 
I^orthern  Virginia,  leaving  only  a  few  fortified  posts 
along  the  frontier,  Avhile  the  shattered  armies  of  both 
Pope  and  McClellan  sought  shelter  in  the  strong- 
fortifications  of  AYashington,  from  which  they  had  so 
recently  marched  in  immense  numbers  and  with 
splendid  equipment,  in  the  confident  expectation  of 
annihilating  the  Confederate  army.  Pope's  boast  had 
been  that  during  his  campaign  his  headquarters 
should  be  in  the  saddle,  and  that  he  would  subsist  his 
troops  on  the  invaded  country,  authorizing  them  to 
appropriate  from  the  inhabitants  all  the  horses  and 
provisions  which  they  could  make  use  of,  and  to  de- 
stroy what  they  could  not  use.  He  also  demanded 
that  all  citizens  within  his  lines  should  take  an  oath 
of  allegiance  to  the  Federal  government,  or  be  ban- 
ished South,  threatening  that  they  should  be  executed 
as  spies  in  case  of  their  return.  Fortunate  was  it  for 
tlie  Virginians  that  this  cruel  and  boastful  command- 
er had  so  short  and  inglorious  a  reign. 

The  success  of  the  Confederates  thus  far,  with  an 
inferior  force  against  greatly  superior  numbers,  now 
emboldened  General  Lee  to  conceive  the  plan  of 
taking  the  aggressive,  and  pursuing  his  advantage 
bv  an  invasion  of  Marvland.     It  was  desirable  that 


344     LIFK  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

Virginia  slioulcl  have  a  respite  from  the  ravages  of 
the  two  irreat  contendinfi:  armies,  which  had  so  lontr 
made  it  their  field  of  battle ;  and  as  ^Maryland  had 
been  a  Southern  State,  and  was  full  of  Southern 
sympathy,  it  was  hoped  that  the  appearance  of  Lee's 
army  would  stimulate  her  people  to  aid  in  achiev- 
ing independence.  From  the  beginning  of  the  Avar, 
many  [Marvlanders  had  been  in  the  Southern  army, 
and  it  had  no  braver  men  or  better  soldiers.  In 
consequence  of  its  forced  marches  and  many  hard- 
fought  battles,  it  was  poorly  equipped  for  an  invasion  ; 
but  the  great  success  hitherto,  and  the  high  spirit  of 
his  men,  gave  confidence  to  their  commander,  and  the 
army  was  pat  in  motion  for  the  Potomac — Jackson's 
corps  having  rested  only  one  day  after  the  battle  of 
Ox  Hill.  Avhich  closed  with  the  night  of  September 
1st,  in  a  thunder-storm  and  deluge  of  rain.  The  first 
day  tliey  marched  to  Dranesville,  and  on  the  second 
reached  Leesburg. 

The  fame  of  Stonewall  Jackson  having  spread  far 
and  wide,  the  people  were  eager  to  catch  a  glimpse  of 
him  whenever  his  march  led  him  near  their  homes. 
Crowds  pressed  upon  him,  and  ardent  admirers  would 
sometimes  throw  their  arms  round  the  neck  of  his  horse. 
Attentions  were  showered  upon  him  by  the  old  and 
young,  and  were  often  of  so  enthusiastic  a  nature  as 
to  really  embarrass  him.  As  an  instance  of  this,  while 
he  Avas  passing  through  Leesburg  a  lady  was  seen 
standino;  in  her  doorwav,  who,  on  havino^  her  hero 
pointed  out  to  her,  ran  out  into  the  middle  of  the 
street,  and,  divesting  herself  of  a  scarf,  threw  it  before 
liis  horse.  AVith  his  characteristic  modesty,  he  did 
not  comprehend  that  this  was  meant  to  do  him  honor. 


CROSSING   THE   POTOMAC.  345 

and,  reining  up,  he  looked  witli  puzzled  inquiry  first  at 
the  lady,  who  had  retired  to  the  sidewalk,  and  then 
at  the  scarf  in  front  of  his  horse's  feet.  One  of  his 
young  staff  officers,  seeing  his  perplexity,  explained  to 
iiim  in  a  stage  whisper :  '^  She  means  you  to  ride  over 
it,  general."  As  soon  as  he  understood  the  delicate 
tribute  which  she  intended,  he  turned  to  her  with  a 
beaming  smile,  and,  taking  off  his  cap,  gallantly  rode 
over  the  scarf. 

On  the  5th  of  September  General  Jackson's  com- 
mand crossed  the  Potomac  at  AYhite's  Ford.  The 
river  here  is  only  about  half  a  mile  wide,  and  having  a 
level  and  pebbly  bottom,  from  two  to  three  feet  deep, 
the  infantry  were  able  to  ford  the  stream.  As  the 
troops  came  in  sight  of  the  river,  they  quickened  their 
steps,  and  as  line  after  line  planted  their  feet  upon 
Maryland  soil,  they  rent  the  air  with  enthusiastic 
cheers. 

As  soon  as  they  had  crossed,  the  first  work  to  be 
done  was  to  destroy  the  locks  of  the  canal,  thus  drain- 
ing off  its  waters  and  preventing  its  navigation.  On 
the  6th  the  army  occupied  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Eailroad  and  entered  Frederick  City.  Here  a  Mary- 
land gentleman  welcomed  General  Jackson  by  pre- 
senting him  with  a  superb  horse,  and  a  few  hundred 
young  men  joined  the  ranks  of  the  Southern  army. 
Just  as  soon  as  his  troops  became  the  invaders,  he 
issued  the  most  stringent  orders  against  straggling, 
depredation  upon  property,  and  every  species  of  rapine 
or  trespass,  and  his  well-disciplined  soldiers  proved 
their  obedience  by  a  respect  for  private  rights  and 
a  magnanimous  forbearance  that  were  in  striking 
contrast  with  the  conduct  of  the  Federal  army  while 


31G  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 

in  Yiro-inia.  At  Frederick,  Jackson  rested  with  his 
troops  four  days,  and  the  day  after  his  arrival  being 
the  Sabbath,  lie  attended  divine  Avorship.  It  was  a 
noteworthy  fact  tliat  the  people  of  the  place  attended 
their  various  churches  with  as  much  freedom  and  se- 
curity as  if  they  were  not  within  tiie  lines  of  an  in- 
vading army.  Of  the  service  he  wrote  to  his  wife  the 
next  day,  September  8th  : 

..."  Last  evening  I  attended  a  German  llcf ( )rmed 
churcli  in  Frederick  City.  I  was  not  quite  near 
enough  to  hear  all  the  sermon  [his  modesty  had  led 
him  to  take  a  back  seat],  and  I  regret  to  say  fell 
asleep;  but  had  I  been  near  enough  to  hear,  would 
probably  not  liave  been  so  unfortunate.  The  minister 
is  a  gifted  one,  and  the  building  beautiful.  The  pews 
are  arranged  m  a  circular  form,  so  that  every  person 
faces  the  pulpit.  The  town  appears  to  be  a  charming 
place,  neat  and  beautiful.  The  ladies  and  gentlemen 
were  sitting  in  front  of  the  doors,  and  all  looked  so 
comfortable,  and  I  may  say  elegant,  according  to  my 
ideas,  and  their  enjoyment  looked  so  genuine,  that 
my  heart  was  in  sympathy  Avith  the  surroundings. 
If  such  scenes  could  only  surround  me  in  Lexington, 
how  my  heart  would,  under  a  smiling  Providence, 
rejoice  I" 

Whittier's  celebrated  war  poem,  "  Barbara  Friet- 
chie,"  claims  to  be  founded  upon  an  incident  Avhicli 
was  supposed  to  have  taken  place  upon  the  entrance 
of  General  Jackson  with  his  tix)()ps  into  Frederick 
City.  The  story  is  l)est  told  in  the  ])oet's  own  melo- 
dious language,  the  part  relating  to  General  Jackson 
and  his  troops  only  being  quoted  : 


"BARBARA   FRIETCHIE."  34.^ 

"  On  that  pleasant  morn  of  the  early  fall 
When  Lee  marclied  over  the  mountain  wall- 
Over  the  mountains  winding  down, 
Horse  and  foot,  into  Frederick  town — 
Forty  flags  with  their  silver  stars, 
Forty  flags  with  their  crimson  bars, 
Flapped  in  the  morning  wind  :  the  sun 
Of  noon  looked  down,  and  saw  not  one. 
Up  rose  old  Barbara  Frietchie  then, 
Bowed  with  lier  fourscore  years  and  ten  ; 
Bravest  of  all  in  Frederick  town. 
She  took  up  the  flag  the  men  hauled  down  : 
In  her  attic  window  the  staflf  she  set. 
To  show  one  heart  was  loyal  yet. 
Up  the  street  came  the  rebel  tread, 
Stonewall  Jackson  riding  ahead. 
Under  his  slouched  hat,  left  and  right 
He  glanced  ;  the  old  flag  met  his  sight. 
'  Halt  I' — the  dust-brown  ranks  stood  fast. 
'Fire!' — out  blazed  tlie  rifle  blast; 
It  shivered  the  window,  pane  and  sasli ; 
It  rent  the  banner  with  seam  and  gasli. 
Quick,  as  it  fell  from  the  broken  staff", 
Dame  Barbara  snatched  the  silken  scarf; 
She  leaned  far  out  on  tlie  window-sill. 
And  shook  it  forth  witli  a  royal  will. 
'  Shoot,  if  you  must,  this  old  gray  head, 
But  spare  your  country's  flag,'  she  said. 
A  shade  of  sadness,  a  blush  of  shame. 
Over  the  face  of  the  leader  came; 
The  nobler  nature  within  him  stirred 
To  life  at  that  woman's  deed  and  word  : 
'  Who  touches  a  hair  of  yon  gray  head 
Dies  like  a  dog  I    Marcli  on  I'  he  said. 

*  :i<  *  >;=  *  He 

Honor  to  her  1  and  let  a  tear 

Fall,  for  her  sake,  on  Stonewall's  bier." 

Alas  for  the  poet !  that  rude  hands  should  have  to 


348     LIFE  OF  GEXERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

sweep  away  this  graphic  picture,  which  his  many  ad- 
mirers have  so  long  regarded  as  drawn  from  life  ;  but 
I  have  been  told  by  members  of  (General  Jackson's 
staff  that  this  pretty  story  Avas  a  myth.  This  is  con- 
firmed by  Dame  Barbara's  own  nephew,  A'alerius 
Ebert,  of  Frederick  City,  who  writes  to  a  Xorthern 
paper : 

..."  As  to  the  waving  of  the  Federal  flag  in  the 
face  of  the  rebels  by  Dame  Barbara  on  the  occasion 
of  Stonewall  Jackson's  march  through  Frederick, 
truth  requires  me  to  say  that  Stonewall  Jackson,  with 
his  troops,  did  not  pass  Barbara  Frietchie's  residence 
at  all ;  but  passed  through  what  in  this  city  is  called 
'*  The  Mill  Alley/'  about  three  hundred  yards  from 
her  residence,  then  passed  due  west  towards  Antie- 
tara,  and  thus  out  of  the  city.  But  another  and  still 
stronger  fact  w4th  regard  to  this  matter  may  be  here 
presented — viz. :  the  poem  by  AVhittier  represents  our 
venerable  relative  (then  ninety -six  years  of  age)  as 
nimljly  ascending  to  her  attic  window  and  waving 
her  small  Federal  flag  defiantly  in  the  face  of  Stone- 
wall Jackson's  troops.  Xow,  Dame  Barbara  was  at 
the  moment  bed-ridden  and  helpless,  and  had  lost 
the  power  of  locomotion.  She  could  at  that  period 
only  move,  as  she  Avas  moved,  by  the  hel]:)  of  her  at- 
tendants. These  are  the  facts,  proving  that  AVhittier  s 
poem  upon  this  subject  is  pure  liction." 

The  bold  step  of  General  Lee  in  the  invasion 
of  Maryland  spread  consternation  at  "Washington ; 
and  President  Lincoln,  realizing  tlie  paramount  im- 
portance of  protecting  the  capital,  no  immediate  ac- 


ENTHUSIASTIC   DEMONSTRATIONS.  349 

tioii  was  taken  to  follow  the  invading  army.  Upon 
the  arrival  of  the  whole  Confederate  army  at 
Frederick,  General  Lee  held  a  consnltation  with  his 
leading  generals  as  to  a  plan  of  future  operations. 
Although  the  mass  of  the  Federal  troops  had  retired 
to  Washington,  Harper's  Ferry  had  not  yet  been 
evacuated,  as  General  Lee  had  hoped,  and  this  en- 
dangered the  safety  of  his  army.  It  had  been  his 
design  to  proceed  with  his  command  into  Western 
Maryland,  keeping  up  his  communications  with  Eich- 
mond  through  the  Shenandoah  Yalley,  and  to  threaten 
Pennsylvania,  thus  hoping  to  draw  the  enemy  after 
him,  and  aAvay  from  their  base  of  supplies.  But  with 
the  Federals  holding  Harper's  Ferry,  it  was  deemed 
necessary  to  capture  the  place  as  speedily  as  possible, 
and  General  Jackson  was  ordered  to  move  with  his 
corps  to  Martinsburg,  and  after  dislodging  the  enemy 
there  to  march  down  the  south  side  of  the  Potomac 
upon  Harper's  Ferry.  He  accordingly  left  Frederick 
on  the  10th  of  September,  and,  making  a  rapid  transit 
through  Middletown,  Boonsboro',  and  Williamsport, 
the  next  day  he  recrossed  the  Potomac,  and  was  upon 
his  native  soil.  Upon  hearing  of  Jackson's  approach, 
on  the  11th,  the  Federal  commander  retreated  to 
Harpers  Ferry,  and  the  next  morning  Jackson's  cav- 
alry reached  Martinsburg,  where  the  people,  equally 
astonished  and  delighted,  greeted  him  with  a  glad 
Avelcome;  and,  being  once  more  in  his  beloved  val- 
lev,  among  his  own  people,  his  heart  responded  with 
o-rateful  emotion  to  their  eaofer  demonstrations.  The 
ladies,  who  are  always  foremost  in  doing  and  claim- 
ing honors,  beset  him  on  all  sides,  and  besought  of 
him  souvenirs — some  requesting  locks  of  his  hair,  and 


350  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

Others  buttons  from  liis  coat.  lie  tried  to  excuse  him- 
self by  telling  one  pretty  petitioner  that  sJte  had  more 
hair  than  he  had,  and  he  permitted  them  to  strip  his 
coat  of  Inittons,  Init  finally  their  importunity  so 
embarrassed  him  that,  with  a  blushing  face,  he  said  : 
*•  Keally,  ladies,  this  is  the  first  time  I  was  ever  sur- 
rounded by  the  enemy,"  and,  Atitli  the  best  grace  he 
could,  he  retreated  from  the  clamorous  circle.  After- 
wards, a  considerate  young  lady  sent  him  a  present 
of  several  cards  of  military  buttons  to  replace  those 
that  had  been  cut  from  his  coat,  accompanying  the 
gift  with  a  charming  letter.  As  a  penalty  of  sharing 
his  master's  fame,  poor  "  Little  Sorrel ''  lost  many 
locks  from  his  mane  and  tail. 

A  rapid  march  from  Martinsburg  brought  General 
Jackson  and  his  corps,  on  the  morning  of  the  IStli  of 
September,  to  Harpers  Ferry.  In  the  space  of  three 
months  Jackson  had  swept  down  the  valley,  fought 
and  won  tlie  battles  of  Cross  Keys  and  Port  Republic ; 
had  marched  to  Eichmond  and  borne  a  conspicuous 
part  m  the  seven  days'  battles ;  had  then  turned  north 
towards  AVashington,  and  won  the  battle  of  Cedar 
Run,  and  the  second  great  struggle  upon  the  plains 
of  Manassas;  and  now,  after  a  march  to  Frederick, 
Maryland,  returned  to  Harpers  Ferry,  thus  complet- 
ing a  circuit  so  full  of  toil,  heroism,  and  victory  as 
to  appear  almost  incredible. 

Arrived  at  Harper's  Ferry,  General  Jackson  found 
the  enemy  in  force,  and  drawn  up  in  battle  array 
upon  Bolivar  Heights.  General  Lee,  in  his  plan  for 
the  capture  of  the  place,  had  ordered  two  other  divi- 
sions, commanded  by  Generals  ]\rcLaws  and  AYalker, 
to  approach  simultaneously  with  Jackson's  corps,  and 


CAPTUKE   OF  HARPER'S  FERRY.  351 

seize  the  Maryland  Heights  and  Loudoun  Heights, 
which  Avould  surround  tlie  garrison  beyond  escape. 
It  was  but  one  day's  march  for  these  divisions,  while 
Jackson's  route  around  by  Martinsburg  was  a  circuit 
of  sixty  miles.  He  was  therefore  naturally  anxious 
to  ascertain  whether  they  had  arrived  at  their  respec- 
tive destinations,  and  lost  no  time  in  signalling  their 
posts,  but,  receiving  no  reply,  found  that  he  was  in 
advance  of  them.  He  then  sent  couriers  to  the  heights, 
who  returned  during  tlie  night  with  the  intelligence 
that  both  generals  had  executed  their  movements, 
and  were  in  possession  of  the  two  heights.  The 
Federals  were  now  encompassed  on  every  side.  On 
the  morning  of  the  l-tth,  Jackson  established  com- 
munication with  McLaws  and  Walker,  and,  as  the 
ranking  officer,  directed  the  plan  of  operations  for 
the  capture  of  Harper's  Ferry. 

After  cutting  roads,  with  great  labor,  by  which 
artiller\^  could  be  taken  up  to  the  heights,  the  Con- 
federates poured  shot  and  shell  upon  the  enemy, 
producing  great  dismay  and  the  wildest  confusion. 
However,  they  still  had  one  loop-hole  of  escape,  for 
the  Confederate  artillery  could  not  dislodge  the  troops 
that  occupied  the  main  line  upon  Bolivar  Heights, 
and  here  there  was  a  chance  of  McClellan's  coming 
to  their  relief.  So  it  fell  to  Jackson's  corps  to  deal 
the  finishing  stroke,  in  frustrating  this  forlorn  hope, 
which  was  accomplished  by  moving  in  the  darkness 
of  night,  screened  by  the  ravines  along  the  river,  and 
getting  iu  the  enemy's  rear.  To  make  assurance 
doubly  sure,  he  planted  eleven  pieces  of  artillery 
across  the  Shenandoah  to  intercept  egress  or  ingress, 
thus  destroying  every  chance  of  escape  or  relief.    The 


352     LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

morninir  of  the  15th  found  tlie  assailants  eaoer  to  re- 
ne^v  the  attack,  and  Jackson  ordered  all  the  batteries 
to  open  at  once.  A  furious  cannonade  thus  began, 
when  after  al)out  an  hour's  resistance  on  the  part  of 
the  garrison,  a  white  flag  was  seen  to  be  lifted  aloft, 
and  the  tempest  of  battle  at  once  ceased.  The  enemy 
iiad  surrendered— with  a  garrison  of  eleven  thousand 
men,  over  sixty  pieces  of  artillery,  thirteen  thousand 
stand  of  small-arms,  great  numbers  of  horses  and 
wagons,  and  vast  quantities  of  stores  of  every  descrip- 
tion. The  garrison  w^as  treated  on  the  most  liberal 
terms.  The  officers  were  permitted  to  retain  their 
side-arms  and  all  their  personal  effects,  upon  their 
parole  ;  and  wagons  and  horses  Avere  also  loaned  them 
to  remove  their  baggage  into  the  Federal  lines.  The 
privates  also,  after  being  disarmed,  were  released  on 
parole. 

Writing  to  his  wife.  General  Jackson  says : 

"  It  is  my  grateful  privilege  to  Avrite  that  our  God 
has  given  us  a  brilliant  victory  at  Harpers  Ferry 
to-day.  Probably  nearly  eleven  thousand  prisoners, 
a  great  number  of  small  -  arms,  and  over  sixty  pieces 
of  artillery  are,  through  God's  blessing,  in  our  posses- 
sion. The  action  commenced  yesterday,  and  ended 
this  morning  in  the  capitulation.  Our  Heavenly 
Father  blesses  us  exceedingly.  I  am  thankful  to  say 
that  our  loss  was  small,  and  Joseph  and  myself  were 
mercifully  protected  from  harm.'' 

AVhen  General  Lee  sent  the  forces  under  Jackson 
fi'om  Frederick  to  reduce  IIar])cr's  Ferry,  he  started 


McCLELLAN'S   ARMY   APPROACHING.  353 

the  remaining  part  of  his  command  in  other  direc- 
tions, and  in  the  meantime  the  situation  of  the 
Confederates  in  Maryland  assumed  a  grave  aspect. 
McClellan's  grand  army  entered  Frederick  the  day 
after  General  Lee  evacuated  it,  and  unfortunately  a 
copy  of  his  order  directing  the  movements  of  his 
whole  army  had  been  dropped  on  leaving  the  town, 
and  was  picked  up  by  the  Federals,  revealing  Lee's 
plan  to  McClellan,  who  at  once  embraced  his  oppor- 
tunity, and  pressed  forward  in  pursuit,  before  Lee 
could  concentrate  his  scattered  troops  for  battle. 
The  Confederate  army  was  now  in  great  peril,  as 
McClellan,  with  a  full  knowledge  of  the  situation 
and  of  the  movements  of  the  Confederates,  was 
gathering  his  forces  for  a  decisive  conflict.  On  the 
13th  the  Confederate  cavalry  near  Boonsboro'  was 
forced  back  slowly,  and  the  command  of  General 
D.  H.  Hill,  Avhich  had  been  sent  to  guard  the  moun- 
tain pass  in  front  of  Boonsboro',  w^as  attacked  by 
overwhelming  numbers.  With  less  than  five  thousand 
men,  he  held  the  pass  for  five  hours,  repelling  re- 
peated assaults  until  Longstreet,  coming  to  their  sup- 
port in  the  afternoon,  enabled  them  to  maintain  their 
ground  until  nightfall. 

To  oppose  the  advance  of  the  enemy  more  effectu- 
ally. General  Lee  determined  to  concentrate  his  forces 
at  Sharpsburg,  and  Jackson  was  summoned  to  join 
him  as  speedily  as  possible.  Prompt  to  obey  the 
order,  he  did  not  wait  to  receive  the  surrender  of  the 
Federal  troops  at  Harper's  Ferry,  but  left  that  duty 
to  General  A.  P.  Hill.  With  the  rest  of  his  com- 
mand he  took  up  his  march  by  way  of  Shepherds- 
town,  Generals  Walker  and  McLaws  having  orders 
23 


354  LIFE  OF   (JENFRAL   THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 

to  follow.  The  movement  of  all  the  troops,  except 
JMcLaws's,  which  were  harassed  and  delayed  by  the 
enemy,  was  safely  effected.  Longsti*eet  and  I).  11. 
Hill  arrived  at  Sharpsburg  on  the  morning  of  the 
loth,  and  their  troops  Avere  greatly  inspirited  by  the 
news  of  the  capture  of  Harper's  Ferr}^  Sharpsburg 
is  a  little  hamlet,  situated  two  and  a  half  miles  from 
the  Potomac  and  one  mile  from  Antietam  Creek. 
In  the  Federal  accounts  this  creek  gave  name  to  the 
battle,  which  is  always  spoken  of  as  the  Battle  of 
Antietam.  Sharpsburg  itself  is  remarkable  only  for 
its  intersection  of  six  roads,  which  afforded  facilities 
for  the  concentration  of  Lee's  divided  army.  The 
country  is  elevated  and  undulating,  and  presented  a 
good  defensive  position,  and  here  General  Lee  made 
his  dispositions  to  meet  the  advance  of  the  enemv  on 
the  15th  of  September;  but  the  latter  made  onh^  re- 
connoissances  on  that  dav.  However,  on  the  next 
morning,  the  IGth,  their  batteries  opened  fire,  and 
their  swaying  multitudes  indicated  that  a  great  battle 
had  begun.  It  was  about  noon  when  Jackson  arrived 
on  the  iield,  and,  after  a  brief  rest  for  his  wearied 
troops,  took  his  position,  which  was  one  of  great 
exposure  and  danger.  AVith  the  approach  of  evening, 
both  the  Federal  artillery  and  infantry  fiercely  assailed 
the  Confederates  under  the  command  of  General 
Hood,  whose  left  Jackson  was  ordered  to  support. 
This  assault  continued  late  into  the  night,  but  was 
gallantly  repelled,  and  the  two  hostile  armies  slept 
upon  their  arms  to  be  ready  to  renew  the  bloody  con- 
flict in  the  morning.  Even  their  hours  of  repose  were 
disturbed  by  a  continual  dropping  fire. 

A  splendid  autumn  morning  had  scarcely  dawned. 


THE  BATTLE  OF  SHARPSBURG.         355 

on  the  17th,  Avhen  its  briUiant  beams  were  obscured 
b}^  the  smoke  of  terrific  volleys  from  the  whole  Fed- 
eral line  of  artillery — the  heaviest  fire  falling  upon 
the  Confederate  left  held  by  Jackson — an  attack  which 
was  soon  supported  by  infantry  advancing  in  great 
force.  The  overwhelming  numbers  were  met  with 
unflinching  bravery  and  resolution,  and  for  several 
hours  the  unequal  combat  raged  with  unceasing  vio- 
lence and  varying  fortune.  Many  of  the  Confederate 
field  officers  were  killed  and  wounded,  and  their  whole 
line  rapidly  thinned  under  the  murderous  fire  of  the 
tremendous  odds  against  them  ;  still  they  fought  with 
unconquerable  tenacity,  repeatedly  breaking  the  ranks 
of  the  enemy,  and,  although  forced  back  by  sheer 
weight  of  numbers,  they  turned  at  every  favorable 
position  to  make  a  stand,  and  retired  to  the  best  ad- 
vantage, Avhen  Jackson,  still  undaunted,  ordered  Early 
and  Hood  to  gather  up  the  fragments  of  the  shattered 
troops  and  return  to  the  front  to  relieve  those  who 
,  were  there  so  sorely  pressed.  Xobly  did  they  exe- 
cute their  commission,  and,  rushing  forward  against 
the  surging  masses  of  the  enemy,  succeeded  in  arrest- 
ing the  tide  of  battle.  For  hours  they  resisted  far 
greater  numbers,  and  finally  drove  them  back,  and  re- 
established the  Confederate  lines.  Most  opportunely, 
at  this  juncture,  General  McLaws,  with  his  division, 
arrived  upon  the  field,  and  with  his  prompt  co-opera- 
tion and  the  strenuous  efforts  of  other  commanders  the 
victorious  enemy  were  checked  ;  their  lines  began  to 
waver,  and  they  retreated  half  a  mile  with  great  loss. 
General  Jackson  was  now  enabled  to  re-establish  the 
whole  of  his  line  ;  but  the  Federals,  though  withdraw- 
ing their  infantry,  still  rained  down  a  furious  artillery 


356  LIFE    OF   GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

fire  the  remainder  of  the  day :  but  Jackson's  troops, 
now  in  a  more  sheltered  position,  suffered  little  loss. 
The  Federal  troops  returned  again  to  attack  the  Con- 
federate right  and  centre,  but  were  again  repulsed. 
Unfortunately,  however,  they  discovered  that  one  of 
the  brigades  opposed  to  them  had  been  withdrawn 
from  its  position,  and  immediately  pressed  forward 
through  the  breach  thus  made,  and  pierced  the  Con- 
federate lines.  General  D.  II.  Hill  and  other  officers 
rallied  the  remnants  of  several  scattered  brigades,  and 
with  four  pieces  of  artillery,  supported  by  only  a  few 
hundred  bayonets,  arrested  the  vast  masses  of  the  ene- 
my. This  small  force  (some  of  whom  had  fired  ever}^ 
cartridge,  and  could  trust  only  to  the  bayonet)  pre- 
sented a  bold  front,  until  two  other  batteries  came  to 
their  relief;  and  after  a  desperate  and  determined  re- 
sistance of  an  hour  or  so,  the  Federals  retired. 

Notwithstanding  the  most  stubborn  and  determined 
defence  of  the  bridge  over  the  Antietam,  it  was  at 
last  gained  by  the  Federals,  who  crossed  over  in  im- 
mense numbers  and  attacked  Longstreet's  right,  which 
commanded  the  approaches.  A  few  hundred  yards 
advance  would  have  given  them  possession  of  the  roads 
leading  from  Sharpsburg  to  the  Potomac,  which  were 
saved  only  by  the  timely  arrival,  from  Harpers  Ferry, 
of  A.  P.  Hill  and  his  division,  which  came  at  once  to 
the  support  of  Longstreet,  and  attacked  the  Federals 
who,  flushed  with  expectant  victory,  had  become  dis- 
ordered by  a  too  rapid  and  eager  advance.  After 
crossing  the  bridge,  a  triple  line  of  the  enemy  dashed 
forward,  captured  a  battery,  and  almost  gained  the 
crest  of  the  Avave  of  success,  when  they  were  checked 
by  Hill's  batteries  and  others  in  different  positions. 


GENERAL  LEE   RETREATS  ACROSS  THE  POTOMAC.     357 

the  effect  of  whose  concentrated  fire  was  to  drive  the 
enemy  back  across  the  creek,  and  the  Confederates 
recaptured  the  lost  battery.  The  shadows  of  night 
now  gathered  over  the  scene,  closing  one  of  the  most 
desperate  and  hard-fought  battles  of  the  war. 

"  During  this  terrible  conflict,  General  Jackson,"  so 
writes  Dr.  Dabney,  his  former  chief-of-staff,  "  exposed 
his  life  with  his  accustomed  imperturbable  bravery, 
riding  among  his  batteries  and  directing  their  fire, 
and  communicating  his  own  indomitable  spirit  to  his 
men.  Yet  he  said  to  a  Christian  comrade  that  on  no 
day  of  battle  had  he  ever  felt  so  calm  an  assurance 
that  he  should  be  preserved  from  all  personal  harm 
through  the  protection  of  his  Heavenly  Father." 

In  his  report  of  this  battle  of  Sharpsburg,  General 
Lee  gives  the  following  picture  of  his  army :  "  The 
arduous  service  in  which  our  troops  had  been  engaged, 
their  great  privations  of  rest  and  food,  and  the  long 
marches,  without  shoes,  over  mountain  roads,  had 
greatly  reduced  our  ranks  before  the  action  began. 
These  causes  had  compelled  thousands  of  brave  men 
to  absent  themselves,  and  many  more  had  done  so 
from  unworthy  motives.  This  great  battle  was  fought 
by  less  than  forty  thousand  men  on  our  side,  all  of 
whom  had  undergone  the  greatest  labors  and  hard- 
ships in  the  field  and  on  the  march.  Nothing  could 
surpass  the  determined  valor  with  which  they  met 
the  large  army  of  the  enemy,  fully  supphed  and 
equipped,  and  the  result  reflects  the  highest  credit 
on  the  officers  and  men  engaged." 

The  18th  was  devoted  by  both  armies  to  burying 
their  dead  and  removing  their  wounded.  On  that 
dav  General  Lee  discovered  that  McClellan  was  ex- 


358      LIFE  OK  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

pecting  a  large  reinforcement  of  fresh  troops,  and,  in 
view  of  the  exhausted  condition  of  his  own  forces, 
determined  not  to  risk  another  battle,  and  therefore 
withdrew  them  to  Virginia.  He  took  with  him  all 
his  wounded  who  could  bear  removal,  not  leaving  be- 
hind an  efficient  man  or  a  single  gun.  General  Jack- 
son was  intrusted  with  the  rear-guard,  and,  sitting  on 
his  horse  in  the  middle  of  the  Potomac,  for  hours  he 
watched  the  passage  of  the  troops  across  the  stream. 
Xot  until  he  had  seen  the  last  man  and  the  last  gun 
safely  upon  the  Virginia  side  did  he  cross  over  him- 
self. He  then  marched  his  command  four  miles,  and 
encamped  near  Martinsburg.  General  Pendleton,  with 
thirty  pieces  of  artillery,  was  posted  upon  an  eleva- 
tion overlooking  the  river,  in  order  to  prevent  the 
Federals  from  crossing  in  pursuit.  Meanwhile  the 
alertness  of  the  enemy  resulted  in  an  advance  in  con- 
siderable force,  which  planted  their  guns  on  the  oppo- 
site shore.  During  the  night  a  detachment  crossed 
the  river,  and,  completely  surprising  the  Confeder- 
ates, captured  nearly  all  of  their  guns.  General  Pen- 
dleton, at  midnight,  reported  to  General  Jackson 
(what  he  then  believed  to  be  true)  that  they  had  lost 
every  gun  I  It  is  said  the  news  of  this  appalling  dis- 
aster caused  Jackson  more  anxiety  than  he  had  ever 
shown  before  during  the  war.  He  immediately  gave 
orders  to  effect  the  recovery  of  the  captured  guns,  and 
started  alone  towards  Boteler's  Ford,  which  was  a 
little  below  the  position  lost  by  Pendleton,  having 
ordered  his  troops  to  follow  him  without  delay.  He 
was  soon  found  by  General  Lee's  couriers,  without 
escort,  far  in  advance  of  his  troops,  examining  the 
position  of  the  enemy.     The  gallant  A.  P.  Hill  ar- 


FATIGUE   OF   HIS   RAPID   MARCHES.  359 

rived  first  upon  the  ground,  and,  spreading  out  his 
division  into  two  lines,  charged  witli  great  spirit,  re- 
gardless of  the  storm  of  shot  and  shell  from  the 
guns  across  the  river.  The  enemy  resisted  by  bear- 
ing heavily  down  against  Hill's  left;  but,  rallying  his 
whole  force,  he  made  a  second  charge,  and,  sweeping 
down  the  hill,  forced  the  enemy  into  the  river,  and, 
as  he  continued  to  fire  upon  them,  but  few  reached  the 
northern  shore. 

AVhile  Jackson  was  watchins:  this  nio^ht  eno^asfe- 
ment,  a  second  messenger  from  General  Lee  ap- 
l^roached  him  for  information,  and  the  only  remark 
he  made  was,  ''  With  the  blessing  of  Providence,  they 
will  soon  be  driven  back."  In  this  contest  the  Con- 
federates fought  entirely  without  artillery,  employing 
only  the  musket  and  bayonet.  This  brilliant  affair 
was  known  as  that  of  Boteler's  Ford. 

In  this  arduous  campaign  not  one  of  Jackson's  sol- 
diers in  the  ranks  endured  more  fatigue  than  he,  and 
the  mental  strain  was  even  more  wearing  upon  him. 
In  his  rapid  marches  he  sometimes  was  so  overpow- 
ered by  sleep  that  he  could  not  resist  it  even  when 
riding,  and  members  of  his  staff  found  it  necessary  to 
support  him  in  the  saddle  for  fear  of  his  falling.  Sev- 
eral times  he  dismounted,  and,  leaning  his  head  on  a 
fence,  and  resting  his  outstretched  arms  u])on  it,  would 
sleep  for  only  five  or  ten  minutes,  having  asked  his 
staff  to  awaken  him  if  he  slept  longer.  He  Avould  not 
trust  himself  to  lie  down,  lest  his  slumber  might  prove 
so  profound  as  to  render  it  difficult  to  arouse  him. 

An  incident  which  occurred  about  the  close  of  this 
campaign  illustrates  his  kindness  of  heart.  An  old 
woman  called   at   his   headquarters,  and,  to   the   no 


360  I^IFE   OF   GEXERAL   THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 

small  ainusement  of  the  young  staff-officers,  said  she 
had  come  to  see  her  son  John,  who  was  with  "  Jack- 
son's Company."  She  was  much  surprised  that  they 
could  not  tell  her  where  John  was,  for  he  had  been 
with  "  Jackson's  Company  ''  in  all  the  battles.  Her  per- 
sistency somewhat  annoyed  the  young  men  ;  but  when 
Jackson  came  in  and  heard  her  simple  story,  he  lis- 
tened with  as  much  politeness  as  if  she  were  a  grand 
lady,  and  after  gently  reproving  the  young  men  for 
laughing  at  her,  he  ordered  that  every  compan}^  in  his 
corps  should  be  searched  for  ''  John,"  who  was  at  last 
found,  to  the  inexpressible  delight  of  his  loving  old 
mother. 

The  general's  next  letter  to  his  wife  is  dated 

"  BuNKETi  Hill,  Oct.  Gtli. 
'^  I  am  glad  that  you  were  privileged  to  keep  Thanks- 
giving Day.  We  did  not  enjoy  that  blessing,  I  regret 
to  say.  I  trust  it  w^as  generally  observed,  and  that 
rich  blessings  may  flow  from  it  through  our  ever-kind 
Heavenly  Father.  I  also  hope  that  on  that  day  large 
contril)utions  were  made  to  our  Bible  Society.  You 
and  I  have,  as  you  say,  special  reason  for  gratitude  to 
God  for  His  goodness  and  mercy  to  us.  .  .  .  The  citi- 
zens of  Frederick  did  not  present  me  the  horse,  as  was 
published,  though  a  iMary lander  gave  me  a  fine-look- 
ing animal,  possessed  of  great  muscle  and  fine  powers 
of  endurance ;  but  he  was  not  gentle,  and  of  this  the 
donor  notified  me.  Xotwithstanding  the  notice,  I 
mounted  and  rode  him  that  evening,  and  he  did  well. 
The  next  morning,  however,  wlien  1  attempted  again 
to  ride  him,  he  reared  up  and  fell  back  with  me,  hurt- 
insr   nie   considerablv.      Miss    Osbourn,  of   Jefferson, 


A   FEW    WEEKS    OF   REST.  36X 

sent  me  some  excellent  socks,  and  a  beautiful  scarf, 
which  I  wish  my  darling  had.  Our  friend,  Mrs.  Gra- 
ham, of  Winchester,  sent  me  two  nice  sponge-cakes 
last  week,  and  a  Mr.  Vilwig,  of  the  same  place,  sent 
me  an  excellent  arm-chair  for  camp  use.  I  wish  I 
could  keep  it  until  the  close  of  the  war,  as  I  think  my 
esposa  would  enjoy  it.  You  are  earnestly  remembered 
in  my  prayers." 

A  cessation  of  hostilities  for  a  few  weeks  now  gave 
the  march-worn  army  of  Northern  Virginia  a  needed 
and  grateful  rest.  Encamped  on  the  banks  of  the 
Opeqaon,  they  literally  revelled  in  their  repose,  in  the 
beauties  and  delights  of  an  unsurpassed  autumn,  and, 
above  all,  in  the  opportunity  of  refreshing  the  inner 
man,  which  was  afforded  by  the  productive  farms  of 
the  valley.  In  the  rich  meadows  and  pastures  their 
horses  also  luxuriated  and  recruited  strength.  Xever 
were  the  sweets  of  rest  and  plenty  more  enjoyed  by 
man  and  beast.  The  admiration  and  devotion  of  Gen- 
eral Jackson's  men  had  greatly  intensified  during  this 
arduous  campaign,  and  at  his  appearance  they  never 
failed  to  yell  forth  cheers,  which  were  echoed  and  re- 
echoed by  the  more  distant  camps,  as  they  sprang  to 
their  feet,  exclaiming,  "  There  comes  old  Jack !"  This 
season  of  repose  was  not  spent  by  their  leader  in  inac- 
tion or  idleness.  He  devoted  himself  to  reorganizing 
his  shattered  troops— supplying  them  with  shoes  and 
clothing,  and  encouraging  them  in  every  way  that  he 
could  minister  to  body  and  soul.  With  all  his  efforts, 
many  of  his  men  were  left  without  shoes ;  but  such 
was  the  magic  of  his  name  that  his  forces  increased 
rapidly  in  numbers  and  efficiency. 


362  I^II""^    <^*^^   GKNERAL   THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 

On  the  11th  of  October  General  Jackson  received 
from  the  Confederate  government  his  last  promotion, 
which  was  that  of  lieutenant-generaL  October  13th 
he  wi'ote  to  his  wife  again  from  Bunker  Hill,  in  the 
vicinity  of  AVinchester : 

"I  am  sitting  in  my  tent,  about  twelve  miles  from 
our  •  war-home,'  where  you  and  I  spent  such  a  happy 
winter.  The  weather  is  damp,  and  for  the  past  two 
davs  has  been  rainy  and  chilly.  Yesterday  was  com- 
munion at  Mr.  Graham's  church,  and  he  invited  me  to 
be  present,  but  I  was  prevented  from  enjoying  that  priv- 
ilege. However,  I  heard  an  excellent  sermon  from  the 
Eev.  Dr.  Stiles.*  His  text  was  1st  Timothy,  chap,  ii., 
5th  and  6th  vei'ses.  It  was  a  po\verful  exposition  of 
the  Word  of  God;  and  when  he  came  to  the  word 
'himself^  he  placed  an  emphasis  upon  it,  and  gave  it  a 
force  wliich  I  had  never  felt  before,  and  I  realized  that, 
trulv,  the  sinner  who  does  not,  under  Gospel  privi- 
leges, turn  to  God  deserves  the  agonies  of  perdition. 
The  doctor  several  times,  in  appealing  to  the  sinner, 
repeated  the  6th  verse — '  AVho  gave  himself  a  ransom 
for  all.  to  be  testified  in  due  time.'  What  more  could 
God  do  than  to  give  himself  a  ransom  ?  Dr.  Stiles  is 
a  great  revivalist,  and  is  laboring  in  a  work  of  grace 
in  General  EwelFs  division.  It  is  a  glorious  thing  to 
be  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  of  the  Prince  of  Peace. 
There  is  no  equal  position  in  tliis  world. 


*  Rev.  Joseph  C.  Stiles,  D.D.,  who  liad  been  a  pastor  in  Ricli- 
moncl,  from  wliicli  he  was  called  to  New  York  to  the  iMercer  Street 
Church,  of  which  he  was  the  pastor  for  some  years.  At  the  break- 
inf'-out  of  the  war  he  went  South,  and  cast  in  his  lot  with  his 
own  people. 


NOT    ANXIOUS    ABOUT    HIS    EEPUTATIOX.  3^3 

"  Colonel  Blanton  Duncan,  of  Kentucky,  has  pre- 
sented me  with  two  fine  field  or  marine  glasses.  He 
has  apparently  taken  a  special  interest  in  me." 

"  October  20th.  Although  T  greatly  desire  to  see 
our  much-prized  Winchester  friends,  it  has  not  been 
my  privilege  to  visit  the  town  since  last  May.  .  .  . 
Last  night  was  very  cold,  but  my  good  friend  Dr. 
Hunter  McGuire  secured  a  camp-stove  for  me,  and  in 
consequence,  to-day,  I  am  comparatively  quite  com- 
fortable. Don't  send  me  any  more  socks,  as  the  kind 
ladies  have  given  me  more  than  I  could  probably  wear 
out  in  two  years.  God,  through  kind  friends,  is  show- 
ering blessings  upon  me.  .  .  .  Let  the  soldiers  have  all 
your  blankets.  [This  order  was  fulfilled,  and  finally 
all  his  carpets  were  sent  to  the  army  as  covering  for 
the  suffering  soldiers.] 

''  Don't  trouble  yourself  about  representations  that 
are  made  of  your  husband.  These  things  are  earthly 
and  transitory.  There  are  real  and  glorious  blessings, 
I  trust,  in  reserve  for  us  beyond  this  life.  It  is  best 
for  us  to  keep  our  eyes  fixed  upon  the  throne  of  God 
and  the  realities  of  a  more  glorious  existence  beyond 
the  verge  of  time.  It  is  gratifying  to  be  beloved  and 
to  have  our  conduct  approved  by  our  fellow-men,  but 
this  is  not  Avorthy  to  be  compared  with  the  glory  that 
is  in  reservation  for  us  in  the  presence  of  our  glorified 
Kedeemer.  Let  us  endeavor  to  adorn  the  doctrine  of 
Christ  our  Saviour  in  all  things,  knowing  that  there 
awaits  us  'a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight 
of  glory.'  I  would  not  relinquish  the  slightest  dimi- 
nution of  that  glory  for  all  this  world  can  give. 
My  prayer  is  that  such  ma}^  ever  be  the  feeling  of 


36:1:     LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

m}^  heart.  It  appears  to  me  that  it  wonkl  be  better 
for  you  not  to  have  anything  written  about  me. 
Let  us  follow  the  teaching  of  inspiration  —  'Let  an- 
other man  praise  thee,  and  not  thine  own  mouth :  a 
stranger,  and  not  thine  own  lips.'  I  appreciate  the 
lovipg  interest  that  prompted  such  a  desire  in  my  pre- 
cious darling.  .  .  .  You  have  not  forgotten  my  little 
intimation  that  we  might  meet  before  the  end  of  the 
year,  but  I  am  afraid  now  that  your  esposo  will  not  be 
able  to  leave  his  command.  However,  all  this  is  in 
the  hands  of  the  Most  High,  and  my  prayer  is  that 
He  will  direct  all  for  His  own  glory.  Should  I  be 
prevented  from  going  to  see  my  precious  little  wife, 
and  mother  should  grow  worse,  I  wish  a^ou  to  remain 
with  her.  In  addition  to  the  comfort  it  would  give 
her,  it  would  also  gratify  me  to  know  that  she  was 
comforted  by  your  being  with  her.  She  has  my  pray- 
ers that  it  may  please  our  Heavenly  Father  to  restore 
her  again  to  perfect  health.  Do  not  send  me  any  more 
handkerchiefs,  socks,  or  gloves,  as  I  trust  I  have  enough 
to  last  until  peace.  You  think  you  can  remember  the 
names  of  all  the  ladies  who  make  presents  to  me,  but 
you  haven't  heard  near  all  of  them.  An  old  lady  in 
Tennessee,  of  about  eighty  years,  sent  me  a  pair  of 
socks.  A  few  days  since  a  friend  in  Winchester 
presented  me  with  a  beautiful  bridle  and  martingale 
for  a  general  officer,  according  to  the  Army  Regula- 
tions. Mr.  Porter,  of  Jefferson,  sent  me  a  roll  of  gray 
cloth  for  a  suit  of  clothes,  and  friends  are  continually 
sending  things  to  contribute  to  my  comfort.  I  men- 
tion all  this  merely  to  show  you  how  mucli  kindness 
has  been  sho\vn  me,  and  to  give  you  renew^ed  cause 
for  gratitude.      If  I  only  had  you  with  me   in  mv 


FRAGMENTS   OF   LETTERS.  305 

evenings,  it  would  be  such  a  comfort !  I  hope  it  may 
be  my  privilege  to  be  in  Winchester  this  winter.  The 
people  are  so  kind,  and  take  a  great  interest  in  my 
esposita,  and  that  gratifies  me.  ...  I  am  in  a  Sibley 
tent,  which  is  of  a  beautiful  conical  shape,  and  I  am 
sure  you  would  enjoy  being  in  it  for  a  while." 

"  JSTovember  10th.  Colonel  A.  R.  Boteler  telegraphs 
me  from  Richmond  that  arrangements  are  made  for 
supplying  my  command  with  blankets.  Yesterday 
about  seventeen  hundred  and  fifty  were  distributed 
in  Winchester.  There  has  been  much  suffering  in  my 
command  for  want  of  blankets  and  shoes,  especially 
the  latter." 

"  November  11th.  .  .  .  Tell  Colonel  E that  I  am 

glad  to  see  he  has  so  pleasant  a  post  as  Charlotte,  and 
that  /  would  rather  be  stationed  there  [where  his 
wife  then  was]  than  anywhere  else  in  the  Confederacy. 
Colonel  Boteler  deserves  the  lasting  gratitude  of  the 
country  for  having  done  so  much  towards  clothing 


"  November  ITtb .  I  am  more  concerned  again  about 
clothing,  especially  shoes  and  blankets,  than  I  expect- 
ed to  be,  from  what  I  heard.  Colonel  Boteler  is  doino- 
much,  and  has  been  the  means  of  OTeatlv  contributino- 
to  the  comfort  of  our  men.  .  .  .  Our  gracious  Heavenly 
Father  strikingly  manifests  his  kindness  to  me  by  dis- 
posing people  to  bestow  presents  upon  me." 

He  then  gives  the  names  of  a  number  who  had  thus 
honored  him,  and  closes  by  saying : 


366  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   THOMAS   J.  JACKSON. 

"  And  so  God,  my  exceeding  great  joy,  is  continu- 
ally showering  His  blessings  upon  me,  an  unworthy 
creature." 

November  20th  he  wrote  as  follows : 

'•  Don't  you  wish  you  were  here  in  Winchester  i 
Our  headquarters  are  about  one  hundred  yards  from 
Mr.  Graham's,  in  a  large  white  house  back  of  his,  and 
in  full  view  of  our  last  winter's  quarters,  where  my 
esposa  used  to  come  up  and  talk  with  me.  Wouldn't 
it  be  nice  for  you  to  be  here  again  ?  but  I  don't  know 
how  long  you  could  remain.  ...  I  hope  to  have  the 
privilege  of  joining  in  prayer  for  peace  at  the  time  you 
name,  and  trust  that  all  our  Christian  people  will ;  but 
peace  should  not  be  the  chief  object  of  prayer  in  our 
countr3\  It  should  aim  more  especially  to  implore 
God's  forgiveness  of  our  sins,  and  make  our  people  a 
holy  people.  If  we  are  but  His,  all  things  shall  work 
together  for  the  good  of  our  country,  and  no  good 
thing  will  lie  withhold  from  it." 

"  Monday.  If  you  had  been  in  Winchester  when  I 
commenced  this  letter,  you  would  not  be  there  now, 
for  your  husband  is  no  longer  there,  but  his  heart  is 
w^ith  his  little  darling.  Write  to  me  at  Gordonsville, 
as  I  hope  to  be  there  by  Thursday." 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

GLIMPSES  OF  HOME   JOYS.— BIRTH  OF  A  DAUGHTER— 1862. 

It  will  now  be  a  relief  to  turn  aside  for  a  season 
from  the  horrible  pictures  of  war  Avhich  have  been  so 
long  before  us  to  some  more  restful  and  attractive 
pages  in  the  history  of  General  Jackson's  hfe.  In 
order  to  do  this,  we  will  begin  by  going  back  as  far  as 
the  spring  of  1862,  and  glean  some  extracts  from  the 
letters  of  Mrs.  Graham,  of  AYinch ester,  in  whose  hos- 
pitable home  we  spent  the  first  winter  of  the  war; 
letters  written  to  me  from  time  to  time,  which  will 
show  how  warm  a  friendship  grew  out  of  this  associa- 
tion, and  of  which  he  was  the  chief  subject. 

The  correspondence  began  soon  after  the  first  evac- 
uation of  Winchester  by  the  Confederates,  dating  from 
the  3d  of  April,  1862. 

''My  dear  FmEND, —  .  .  .  The  events  of  the  past  few 
weeks  have  been  so  strange,  so  new,  and  so  dreadful, 
that  I  almost  feel  as  if  I  had  entered  upon  a  new  ex- 
istence;  and  when  I  sit  and  recall  the  pleasant  hours 
that  we  passed  together  last  winter,  and  the  dear  gen- 
eraFs  brief  but  happy  visits  to  us,  with  all  that  delight- 
ful interchange  of  Christian  and  social  intercourse,  it 
seems  like  a  bright  dream.  '  Oh,  could  those  days  but 
come  again !'  I  feel  as  though  that  would  be  almost 
too  much  happiness.     The  occupation  of  our  town  by 


368  I^It^E   OF  GENERAL  THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 

the  Federals  came  upon  me  like  a  dreadful  shock.  I 
had  never  permitted  myself  to  believe  for  an  instant 
that  they  would  ever  get  here.  I  had  a  firm  convic- 
tion that  reinforcements  were  somewhere  within  reach, 
for,  of  course,  Ave  knew  that  our  general,  brave  and 
splendid  as  he  is,  could  not  withstand  an  overwhelm- 
ing force  with  his  little  band,  but  still  I  believed  some- 
thing would  turn  up  to  keep  them  away ;  and  when 
he  came  to  tell  us  good- by,  looking  so  sad  (and  I 
know  he  felt  deeply  grieved),  I  felt  stunned,  and  could 
scarcely  trust  myself  to  speak,  lest  I  should  say  some- 
thing to  add  to  his  troubles.  The  agony  of  the  next 
twenty -four  hours,  I  trust,  if  it  is  God's  will,  may  nev- 
er be  experienced  by  me  again.  It  was,  indeed,  a  bit- 
ter thing  to  feel  that  our  own  army  was  gone,  and 
then  to  see  the  Yankees  in  such  numbers,  the  main 
body  marching  to  the  music  of  their  brass  bands,  but 
some  tearing  across  the  fields,  ii})  the  alleys,  and  in 
every  direction — '  monarchs  of  all  thev  surveyed' — it 
was  too  much  for  me,  and  I  gave  way  completely. 
But  I  remembered  that  God  reigns,  and  is  over  all ! 
and  I  know  this  has  not  come  upon  us  by  accident. 
God  has  ordered  and  permitted  it,  and  He  has  been 
better  to  us  than  all  our  fears.  His  angel  has  cer- 
tainly encamped  around  our  dwelling,  and  no  harm 
has  happened  to  us.  It  is  really  wonderful  how  we 
have  been  protected,  Avliile  others  have  suffered  so 
from  their  depredations.  .  .  .  Our  ladies  have  a  daily 
prayer-meeting,  which  is  very  delightful,  and  serves 
to  strengthen  our  faith  and  help  us  to  bear  our  trials. 
I  firmly  believe  that  God  will  deliver  us  and  drive  out 
our  enemies.  Their  sojourn  among  us  has  greatly  in- 
creased the  secession  feeling,  and  i)ersons  who  had 


LETTERS  FROM   MRS.   GRAHAM.  369 

never  taken  an}^  part  before  have  become  violent.  In- 
deed, the  old  town  has  stood  up  bravely  for  the  South. 
This  country  is  becoming  completely  desolated— the 
farms  being-  stripped  of  everything,  the  fences  all  de- 
stroyed, and  the  farmers  not  pkinting  any  crops.  There 
is  no  encouragement  for  them  to  do  so,  as  long  as  the 
Yankees  are  here,  for  they  take  possession  of  every- 
thing they  want.  Their  officers  threaten  to  arrest 
every  secessionist,  but  we  are  not  intimidated,  and  I 
earnestly  hope  our  general  will  come  back  before  they 
have  time.  AYe  do  long  and  watch  for  the  day  when 
he  will  return  at  the  head  of  his  army,  and  we  will  give 
him  such  a  welcome  as  no  man  ever  did  receive  before.'' 

"  August  9th,  1862.  .  .  .  Although  our  master  Pope 
does  not  allow  us  to  write  to  our  ^  reler  friends,  I 
expect  to  have  an  opportunity  of  sending  a  letter 
through  the  lines  ;  but  as  he  is  certainly  not  our  right- 
ful master,  and  if  I  can  so  cheat  him  as  to  have  a  pleas- 
ant chat  with  you,  my  conscience  will  not  be  offended. 
While  you  were  here,  it  became  so  natural  for  me  to  go 
into  your  room  to  communicate  to  you  everything  that 
was  interesting  or  amusing,  that  now,  when  anything 
funny  happens  (for  sometimes  we  do  have  occasion 
to  laugh  even  now),  I  feel  an  intense  desire  to  tell 
you  about  it,  but  have  to  content  myself  with  im- 
agining how  we  would  laugh  if  we  only  had  a  chance. 
.  .  .  That  threatened  oath  of  allegiance  has  been  so 
long  delayed  that  we  hope  it  may  not  be  carried  out ; 
but  you  may  depend  the  thought  was  by  no  means 
agreeable  that  my  dear  husband  would  be  picked  up 
and  put  through  the  lines,  not  knowing  whither  to 
turn  his  feet,  and  I  left  with  foar  little  children  with- 
24 


370  I^IJ'E   OF   GENERAL   THOMAS  J.  JACK  SOX. 

out  protection  or  support.  However,  I  had  the  cahn 
and  dehiihtful  assurance  that  our  Father  would  not 
forsake  us,  but  would  make  all  things  work  together 
for  our  good.  .  .  .  God  has  certainly  made  use  of  your 
noble  husband  to  do  great  things  for  his  country. 
'Them  that  honor  me,  I  will  honor,'  is  His  own 
promise,  and  He  has  been  faithful  to  His  word.  I 
think  our  dear  general  more  entirely  forgets  self  in 
his  desire  to  glorify  God  than  any  one  I  ever  knew — 
his  humble,  confiding  trust  in  the  Almighty  gives  me 
more  comfort  and  more  confidence  than  anything  else. 
His  qualities  as  a  splendid  general  all  admit,  but  the 
greatest  of  men  often  fail  in  their  efl'orts;  so,  far 
above  everything  else  do  I  prize  his  noble.  Christian 
character,  and  I  am  thankful  for  the  privilege  which 
I  enjoyed  in  being  thrown  so  intimately  with  him. 
You  remember  I  told  you  that  I  asked  my  Heavenly 
Father,  if  it  was  right  for  us  to  take  boarders,  to  send 
me  those  who  would  be  congenial,  and  He  certainly 
more  than  answered  my  prayers.  I  thank  Him  for 
you  both,  my  dear  friend. 

''How  wonderfully  God  has  protected  your  dear 
husband  I  Oh  I  how  I  do  rejoice  with  you  that  'his 
head  has  been  covered  in  the  day  of  battle !'  IMay 
God,  in  His  infinite  and  tender  mercy,  spare  him 
from  all  harm,  and  continue  to  make  him  the  instru- 
ment of  our  deliverance,  if  it  is  His  will.  Oh  that 
He  may  give  us  such  victories  as  may  compel  a  peace 
— an  honorable  peace  ! 

"  The  general's  little  visit  to  us  w^as  a  perfect  sun- 
beam. I  never  saw  him  look  so  fat  and  hearty,  and 
he  was  as  l)right  and  happy  as  possible.  He  spent 
two  evenings  with   us;  the  evening  he  arrived  liere 


FROM   MRS.  GRAHAM.  371 

(which  was  Sunday)  he  came  around,  and  said  he  did 
not  think  it  was  wrong  to  come  lunne  on  Sunday. 
This  was  very  gratifying  to  us.  I  don't  remember 
ever  experiencing  more  intense  happiness  than  during 
that  visit;  and  when  I  saw  our  dear  general  in  his  old 
place  at  tlie  table,  I  could  have  screamed  with  delight! 
The  children  were  very  happy  at  seeing  him.  .  .  . 
When  the  Federal  army  last  retreated,  some  of  the 
frightened  fugitives  reported  that  the  ladies  of  our 
town  actually  fired  on  them.  Mother  was  seen  to 
kill  two!'' 

"  October  13th.  We  watch  with  jealous  and  anx- 
ious eyes  everything  which  looks  like  a  retrograde 
tendency.  I  cannot  help  envying  you  your  quiet 
home,  far  removed  from  the  sight  of  w^ar,  but  I  have 
no  doubt  you  would  be  even  willing  to  exchange 
with  me  if  you  could  have  your  husband  with  you. 
Well,  so  it  is — 'every  heart  knoweth  its  own  bitter- 
ness.' But  I  assure  you,  this  thing  of  being  on  the 
l)order,  and  subject  at  any  time  to  be  taken  captives 
again,  is  indeed  dreadful ;  every  time  they  come  it  is 
worse  than  before.  In  this  last  retreat  they  tried  to 
destroy  everything — burned  the  depot  and  warehouses, 
but  I  think  our  troops  captured  a  great  deal.  The 
explosion  of  their  magazine  was  terrific,  our  house 
heaved,  and  the  glass  was  broken  in  almost  every 
house  in  town.  We  poor  Winchester  people  have 
a  hard  time,  don't  we  ? 

"I  wish  the  general  was  near  enough  for  me  to 
minister  to  his  comfort  in  many  ways,  for  we  do  lorn 
Mm.  I  hope  yet  that  we  may  see  him.  I  was  quite 
amused  with  Jim,  who  came  to  see  me  the  other  day. 


372  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 

lou  know  you  didn't  give  me  a  very  exalted  idea  of 
Jim's  talent  in  the  culinary  art,  and  I  said  in  rather 
a  commiserating  tone,  '  Jim,  does  the  General  get 
anything  lie  wants  to  eat  C  '  Oh  I  yes,  madam,  / 
cook.  I  fare  very  well,  and  so  do  the  staff !'  ...  I 
wish  you  could  know  how  your  husband  is  regarded 
here.  I  never  saw  such  admiration  as  is  felt  for  him 
by  every  one,  and  his  Christian  character  elicits  the 
greatest  reverence  and  affection.  It  would  have  done 
vour  heart  good  to  hear  the  prayers  that  were  offered 
for  hhn  on  the  day  of  Thanksgiving." 

'•November  21.st,  1862. 
''  Mv  DEAR  pRiEND, — I  fccl  as  if  I  cauuot  sleep  to- 
night (although  it  is  our  bedtime)  without  writing 
a  few  lines  just  to  tell  you  of  a  most  delightful  visit 
Ave  had  from  you-r  dear  husband.  He  took  his  head- 
(juarters  in  town  day  before  yesterday,  but  he  was 
too  busy  to  come  to  see  us.  Mr.  Graham  called  upon 
him  yesterday,  and  he  promised,  if  he  could,  to  spend 
tliis  evening  with  us ;  but  this  morning  we  Avitnessed 
the  melancholy  spectacle  of  our  army  moving  off 
acrain,  and  we  feared  he  Avould  have  to  hurrv  off, 
without  giving  us  the  pleasure  of  seeing  him.  But 
he  did  not  go,  and  he  did  come  here  to  tea,  and  I  tell 
you  Ave  had  a  pleasant  time.  It  did  seem  so  much 
like  old  times — those  good  old  times  of  last  Avinter ; 
Ave  Avere  all  so  cosy  in  our  dining-room,  and  around 
the  table  Ave  did  Avish  for  you  in  your  seat  between 
us.  Indeed,  the  presence  of  your  dear  little  self  Avas 
all  that  was  Avanting  to  complete  the  pleasure  of  the 
evening.  He  is  looking  in  such  perfect  health — far 
handsomer  than  I  ever  saw  him-  and  is  in  sucli  fine 


FROM   MRS.  GRAHAM.  373 

spirits,  seemed  so  unreserved  and  unrestrained  in  his 
intercourse  with  us,  that  we  did  enjoy  him  to  the 
full.  The  children  begged  to  be  permitted  to  sit  up 
to  see  '  General  Jackson,'  and  he  really  seemed  over- 
joyed to  see  them,  played  with  and  fondled  them, 
and  they  were  equally  pleased.  I  have  no  doubt 
it  was  a  great  recreation  to  him.  He  seemed  to  be 
living  over  last  winter  again,  and  talked  a  great  deal 
about  the  hope  of  getting  back  to  spend  this  winter 
with  us.  in  that  old  room,  which  I  told  him  I  was 
keeping  for  you  and  him.  He  expects  to  leave  to- 
morrow, bat  says  he  may  come  back  yet.  This  would 
be  too  delightful.  He  certainly  has  had  adulation 
enough  to  spoil  him,  but  it  seems  not  to  affect  or 
harm  him  at  all.  He  is  the  same  humble,  dependent 
Christian,  desiring  to  give  God  the  glory,  and  looking 
to  Him  alone  for  a  blessing,  and  not  thinking  of  him- 
self. This,  I  think,  is  a  wonderful  and  beautiful  trait, 
and  one  upon  which  I  delight  to  dwell  in  my  medi- 
tations upon  him.  The  acquaintance  that  I  have 
with  him  as  an  humble,  trusting,  and  devoted  follower 
of  Christ  is  a  source  of  the  greatest  consolation  to 
me  at  all  times.  I  always  feel  assured  that  he  does 
everytliing  under  the  guidance  of  our  Heavenly 
Father,  and  this  is  the  secret  of  his  Avonderful  success. 
"  I  fixed  him  a  lunch  for  to-morrow,  and  we  sat  and 
talked  so  cosily,  and  the  evening  was  concluded  by 
bowing  before  the  family  altar  again,  and  imploring 
our  Father's  blessing  upon  you  and  all  of  us,  what- 
ever may  betide.  Now,  was  not  this  a  charming 
evening,  and  don't  you  wish  you  had  been  here?'' 

A¥e  now  approach  an  event  in  the  life  of  General 


374  I^IFK    OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

Jackson  which  oladdeiiecl  his  lieart  more  than  all 
his  victories,  and  lilled  it  with  devout  gratitude  to 
the  Giver  of  all  good.  On  the  23d  of  November, 
1802,  God  blest  him  with  a  daughter.  To  a  man  of 
his  extreme  domesticity  and  love  for  children  this 
was  a  crowning  happiness;  and  yet,  with  his  great 
modesty  and  shrinking  from  publicity,  he  requested 
that  lie  should  not  receive  the  announcement  by  tele- 
gra[)h.  and  when  it  came  to  him  ])y  letter  he  kept 
the  glad  tidings  all  to  himself— leaving  his  staff  and 
those  around  him  in  camp  to  hear  of  it  through  oth- 
ers. This  was  to  him  a  ''  joy  Avith  which  a  stranger 
could  not  intermeddle,"  and  from  Avhich  his  own 
hand  could  not  lift  the  veil  of  sanctity. 

The  first  intimation  of  his  new  happiness  was  a 
letter  from  his  little  daughter  herself  !  The  amanu- 
ensis was  her  aunt,  Mrs.  Irwin,  at  whose  house  she 
was  born,  in  Charlotte,  North  Carolina,  and  this  was 
the  letter : 

"  My  own  dear  Father, — As  mv  mother's  letter  has 
been  cut  short  by  my  arrival,  I  think  it  but  justice  that 
I  should  continue  it.  I  know  that  you  are  rejoiced  to 
hear  of  my  coming,  and  I  hope  that  God  has  sent  me 
to  radiate  your  pathway  through  life.  I  am  a  very 
tin}^  little  thing.  I  weigh  only  eight  and  a  half 
pounds,  and  Aunt  Harriet  says  I  am  the  express 
image  of  my  darling  papa,  and  so  does  our  kind 
friend,  Mrs.  Osborne,  and  this  greatly  delights  my 
mother.  My  aunts  both  say  that  I  am  a  little  beauty. 
My  hair  is  dark  and  long,  my  eyes  are  blue,  my  nose 
straight  just  like  papa's,  and  my  complexion  not  all 
red  like  most  young  ladies  of  my  age,  but  a  beautiful 


THE    BIRTH  OF  A   DAUGHTER.  3Y5 

blending  of  the  lily  and  the  rose.  Kow,  all  this 
would  sound  very  vain  if  I  were  older,  but  I  assure 
you  I  have  not  a  particle  of  feminine  vanity,  my 
Imly  desire  in  life  being  to  nestle  in  close  to  my 
mamma,  to  feel  her  soft  caressing  touch,  and  to  drink 
in  the  pearly  stream  provided  by  a  kind  Providence 
for  my  support.  My  mother  is  very  comfortable  this 
morning.  She  is  anxious  to  have  my  name  decided 
upon,  and  hopes  you  will  write  and  give  me  a  name, 
with  your  blessing.  AVe  look  for  my  grandmother 
to-morrow,  and  expect  before  long  a  visit  from  my 
little  cousin,  Mary  Graham  Avery,  who  is  one  month 
my  senior.  I  was  born  on  Sunday,  just  after  the 
morning  services  at  church,  but  I  believe  my  aunt 
w^rote  you  all  about  the  first  day  of  my  life,  and  this 
being  only  the  second,  my  history  may  be  comprised 
in  a  little  space.  But  my  friends,  w^ho  are  about  me 
like  guardian  angels,  hope  for  me  a  long  life  of  hap- 
piness and  holiness  and  a  futurity  of  endless  bliss. 
'•  Your  dear  little  w-ee  Daughter.'' 

These  lovely  little  missives  continued  to  reach  the 
father  until  the  mother  w^as  able  once  more  to  resume 
her  pen,  but  only  this  one  was  ever  recovered.  In 
the  meantime,  he  writes  on  the  4:th  of  December : 

.  .  .  '^  Oh !  how  thankful  I  am  to  our  kind  Heavenly 
Father  for  having  spared  my  precious  wnfe  and  given 
us  a  little  daughter!  I  cannot  tell  you  how  gratified 
I  am,  nor  how  much  I  w^ish  I  could  be  with  you  and 
see  my  two  darlings.  But  while  this  pleasure  is  de- 
nied me,  I  am  thankful  it  is  accorded  to  you  to  have 
the  little  pet,  and  I  hope  it  may  be  a  great  deal  of  com- 


376  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 

pany  and  comfort  to  its  mother.  Xow  don't  exert  your- 
self to  write  to  me,  for  to  know  that  3^011  were  taxing 
yourself  to  write  would  give  me  more  pain  than  the 
letter  Avould  pleasure,  so  you  mud  not  do  it.  But  you 
must  love  your  e^x>so  in  the  meantime.  ...  I  expect 
you  are  just  made  up  now  with  that  Ijabv.  JJon't  you 
wish  your  husband  wouldn't  claim  any  ])art  of  it,  but 
let  you  have  the  sole  ownership^  Don't  you  regard 
it  as  the  most  precious  little  creature  in  the  world  (• 
Do  not  spoil  it,  and  don't  let  anybody  tease  it. 
Don't  permit  it  to  have  a  bad  temper.  How  I  would 
love  to  see  the  darling  little  thing!  Give  her  many 
kisses  for  her  father. 

"  At  present  I  am  about  fifty  miles  from  Eich- 
mond,  and  one  mile  from  Guiney's  Station,  on  the 
railroad  from  Eichmond  to  Fredericksburg.  Should 
I  remain  here,  I  do  hope  you  and  baby  can  come  to 
see  me  before  spring,  as  you  can  come  on  the  rail- 
road. Wherever  I  go,  God  gives  me  kind  friends. 
The  people  here  show  me  great  kindness.  I  receive 
invitation  after  invitation  to  dine  out,  and  spend  the 
night,  and  a  great  many  provisions  are  sent  me,  in- 
cluding nice  cakes,  tea,  loaf-sugar,  etc.,  and  the  socks 
and  gloves  and  handkerchiefs  still  come ! 

"  I  am  so  thankful  to  our  ever-kind  Heavenly  Father 
for  having  so  improved  my  eyes  as  to  enable  me  to 
write  at  nio:ht.  He  continuallv  showers  blessinffs 
upon  me ;  and  that  you  should  have  been  spared, 
and  our  darling  little  daughter  given  us,  fills  my 
heart  with  overflowing  gratitude.  If  I  know  my  un- 
worthy self,  my  desire  is  to  live  entirely  and  unre- 
servedly to  God's  (jlerry.  Pray,  my  darling,  that  I  may 
so  live." 


LOVING   THOUGHTS   OF   HIS   CHILD.  377 

In  response  to  bis  baby -daughter's  first  letter,  he 

closes  by  saying :   ''  Thank  sister  H very  kindly, 

and  give  the  baby-daughter  a  shower  of  kisses  from 
her  fatlier,  and  tell  her  that  he  loves  her  better  than 
all  the  baby -boys  in  the  world,  and  more  than  all 
the  other  babies  in  the  world.*' 

This  was  to  reassure  his  wife,  who  feared  he  would 
be  disappointed  at  not  having  a  boy.  He  desired  a 
son,  believing  that  men  had  a  larger  sphere  of  useful- 
ness than  women  ;  but  his  own  will  was  so  entirely  in 
subjection  to  that  of  his  Heavenly  Father  that  he 
said  he  preferred  having  a  daughter,  since  God  had 
so  ordained  it. 

December  3d  he  wrote  to  his  sister-in-law,  thanking 
her  for  her  kindness,  and  saying :  "  I  fear  I  am  not 
grateful  enough  for  unnumbered  blessings.  ...  I 
trust  God  will  answer  the  prayers  offered  for  peace 
on  last  Monday.  Kot  much  comfort  is  to  be  expected 
until  this  cruel  war  terminates.  I  haven't  seen  my 
wife  since  last  March,  and,  never  having  seen  my  child, 
you  can  imagine  with  what  interest  I  look  to  JS'orth 
Carolina." 

December  10th,  he  writes  to  his  wife  :  '*  This  morn- 
ing I  received  a  charming  letter  from  my  darling  lit- 
tle daughter,  Julia."  He  had  given  her  the  name  of 
his  mother,  whose  memory  was  so  dear  to  him.  But 
immediatel}^,  as  if  his  heart  trembled  at  the  very 
thought  of  so  much  happiness,  he  adds :  "  Do  not  set 
your  affections  upon  her,  except  as  a  gift  from  God. 
If  she  absorbs  too  much  of  our  hearts,  God  may  re- 
move her  from  us." 


CHAPTER  XX. 

THE    BATTLE   OF   FREDERICKSBURG. 

From  these  thoughts  of  home,  it  is  an  abrupt  change 
to  the  field  of  war.  But  the  two  armies,  while  enjoy- 
ing a  few  weeks  of  rest,  had  been  in  preparation  for  a 
renewal  of  the  great  struggle.  The  battle  of  Sharps- 
burg  (or  Antietam),  followed  as  it  was  by  the  with- 
drawal of  Lee  across  the  Potomac  into  Virginia,  was 
regarded  in  Wasliington  as  a  great  victory,  and  there 
was  a  loud  demand  that  McClellan,  flushed  with  suc- 
cess and  strengthened  b\^  large  reinforcements,  should 
push  his  advantage  to  the  utmost.  Day  after  day 
came  the  order  from  the  AVar  Department  for  an  im- 
mediate attack,  till  at  last,  impatient  of  delay,  lie  was 
relieved  from  command,  and  Burnside  placed  in  his 
stead,  who  promptly  advanced  to  Fredericksburg,  on 
the  Rappahannock,  behind  wliich  Lee,  following  the 
movement,  proceeded  at  once  to  concentrate  his  whole 
force.  To  support  him  Jackson  was  ordered  from 
AVinchester,  and  he  conveyed  liis  troops  to  Fredericks- 
burg within  eight  days,  having  given  them  a  rest  of 
two  days  to  relieve  those  who  were  without  shoes, 
for,  with  all  his  elTorts  to  provide  for  their  necessities, 
many  still  remained  barefooted,  to  Avhom  it  was  so 
painful  to  march  that  numbers  fell  out  of  the  ranks 
and  had  to  be  left  behind.  But  by  the  greatest  exer- 
tions his  command  was  brou^iht  to  the  scene  of  ac- 


JACKSON  AS   HE   COMES   ON   THE   FIELD.  379 

tion,  and  his  last  message  to  me  before  the  battle  was, 
''My  headquarters  are  several  miles  from  Fredericks- 
burg, and  the  cannonading  near  there  has  been  very 
heavy  this  morning."  By  the  12th  of  December  the 
Federals  crossed  the  Rappahannock,  took  possession 
of  Fredericksburg,  and  prepared  to  sweep  everything 
before  them. 

The  next  morning  (the  memorable  13th),  as  General 
Jackson  rode  forth  to  battle  his  appearance  attracted 
unusual  attention.  He  had  just  received  a  present 
from  General  Jeb  Stuart  of  an  elegant  new  uniform, 
which  was  in  such  striking  contrast  with  his  old 
suit  (of  which  he  had  taken  no  thought,  nor  given 
any  time  to  replace  it  during  his  arduous  Yalley  Cam- 
paign) tliat  his  soldiers  scarcely  recognized  him.  Gal- 
loping down  the  lines  with  his  staff,  he  soon  attracted 
the  attention  of  the  Federal  sharp-shooters;  but  he 
safely  reached  the  summit  of  a  hill,  where  General  Lee 
was  watching  the  progress  of  affairs.  A  Confederate 
artilleryman,  AYm.  Page  Carter,  gives  the  following 
graphic  picture  of  Jackson  as  he  came  on  the  field : 

"  A  general  officer,  mounted  upon  a  superb  bay  horse 
and  followed  by  a  single  courier,  rode  up  through  our 
guns.  Looking  neither  to  the  right  nor  the  left,  he  rode 
straight  to  the  front,  halted,  and  seemed  gazing  intently 
on  the  enemy's  line  of  battle  on  the  old  telegraph  road. 

"  The  outfit  before  me,  from  top  to  toe,  cap,  coat, 
pants,  top-boots,  horse  and  furniture,  were  all  of  the 
new  order  of  things.  But  there  was  something  about 
the  man  that  did  not  look  so  new,  after  all.  He  ap- 
peared to  be  an  old-time  friend  of  all  this  turmoil 
around  him.     As  he  had  done  us  the  honor  to  make 


380  LIFE    OF  GENERAL  THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 

an  afternoon  call  on  the  artillery,  I  thought  it  becom- 
iniT  in  some  one  to  sav  somethino^  on  the  occasion. 
Xo  one  did,  however ;  so,  although  a  somewhat  bash- 
ful and  weak-kneed  youngster,  I  plucked  up  courage 
enough  to  venture  the  remark  that  those  big  guns 
over  the  river  had  been  knocking  us  about  pretty  con- 
siderably during  the  day.  He  quickly  turned  his  head, 
and  I  knew  in  an  instant  who  it  was  before  me.  The 
clear-cut,  chiselled  features ;  the  thin,  compressed,  and 
determined  lips;  the  neatly  trimmed  chestnut  beard; 
the  calm,  steadfast  eye,  that  could  fathom  the  tide  of 
battle  in  a  moment ;  the  countenance  to  command  re- 
spect, and,  in  time  of  war,  to  give  the  soldier  that  con- 
fidence he  so  much  craves  from  a  superior  officer,  were 
all  there.  And  there  Avas  one  I  had  heard  so  much  of 
and  had  longed  so  much  to  see,  whose  battle  fnnit  I 
was  then  to  look  upon  for  the  first  time,  but  not,  how- 
ever, the  last.  As  I  said  before,  he  turned  his  head 
quickly,  and  looking  me  all  over  in  about  two  seconds, 
he  rode  up  the  line  and  away  quietly  and  as  silently 
as  he  came,  his  little  courier  hard  upon  his  heels ;  and 
this  was  my  first  sight  of  Stonewall  Jackson." 

Dr.  Dabney  describes  the  array  of  armies  on  the 
morning  of  the  battle  : 

''  It  was  now  past  nine  o'clock,  and  the  sun,  mount- 
ing up  the  eastern  sky  with  almost  a  summer  power, 
was  rapidly  exhaling  the  mist.  As  the  white  folds 
dissolved  and  rolled  away,  disclosing  the  whole  plain 
to  view,  such  a  spectacle  met  the  eyes  of  the  generals 
as  the  pomps  of  earth  can  seldom  rival.  Marshalled 
upon  the  vast  arena  between  them  stood  the  hundred 


THE  BATTLE  OF  FREDERICKSBURG.        381 

and  twenty-five  thousand  foes,  with  countless  batteries 
of  field-guns  blackening  the  ground.  Long  triple  lines 
of  infantry  crossed  the  field  from  right  to  left,  and 
hid  their  western  extreme  in  the  streets  of  the  little 
city;  while  down  the  valleys,  descending  from  the 
Stafford  Heights  to  the  bridges,  were  pouring  in  vast 
avalanches  of  men,  the  huge  reserves.  For  once,  war 
unmasked  its  terrible  proportions  to  the  view  with  a 
distinctness  hitherto  unknown  in  the  forest-clad  land- 
scapes of  America ;  and  the  plain  of  Fredericksburg 
presented  a  panorama  that  was  dreadful  in  its  gran- 
deur. .  .  .  Lee  stood  upon  his  chosen  hill  of  observa- 
tion, inspiring  every  spectator  by  his  calm  heroism, 
with  his  two  great  lieutenants  beside  him,  and  re- 
viewed every  quarter  of  the  field  with  his  glass.  It 
was  then  that  Longstreet,  to  whose  sturdy  breast  the 
approach  of  battle  seemed  to  bring  gayety,  said  to 
Jackson :  '  General  do  not  all  these  multitudes  fright- 
en you  r  He  replied :  '  We  shall  see  very  soon  whether 
I  shall  not  frighten  them.'  " 

The  generals  soon  sought  their  respective  positions, 
and  the  battle  opened  with  a  furious  cannonade  — two 
hundred  guns  thundering  from  the  heights  occupied 
by  the  enemy— and  the  opposite  hills  returning  the 
fire  with  all  the  skill  and  power  of  which  an  inferior 
force  was  capable.  A  vivid  description  of  the  conflict 
itself  is  furnished  by  a  young  Confederate  officer : 

"  The  whole  battle-field  was  the  most  dramatic  and 
imposing  tableau  I  ever  witnessed.  .  .  .  The  low  grounds 
of  the  Kappahannock  below  Fredericksburg  spread 
into  a  plain  of  some  miles  in  width,  bounded  by  a 


382  I^II'K    OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

rancre  of  low  wooded  liills,  wliicli  terminate  on  the 
lower  side  in  the  Massaponax  low  grounds,  and  on  the 
upper  in  a  series  of  rather  high  and  abrupt  blulTs  next 
to  the  river  and  above  the  town.  At  one  point  in  this 
line  of  hills  a  wooded  marsh  projects  far  into  the  plain. 
"  Imagine  now  this  long  line  of  wooded  hills  peo{)led 
with  men — every  little  promontory  bristling  with  ar- 
tillery, the  Avhole  line  of  railway  at  the  foot  of  the 
hills  and  every  hedge-row  and  ditch  gleaming  with 
bayonets,  and  3^ou  have  what  must  have  been  the 
impression  of  the  Yankees  of  our  position.  Again, 
stand  with  me  upon  one  of  the  same  little  promon- 
tories and  look  out  upon  their  lines,  and  see  what 
we  saw.  Far  upon  the  left  the  smoke  from  the 
smouldering  ruins  of  the  town,  and  Longstreet's  camp- 
iires  seem  to  blend  together;  Avhile  in  front,  and  al- 
most as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach  to  the  right  and  left, 
you  see  the  blue-coated  Federal  lines  extended,  well- 
armed,  well-equipped,  and  seemingly  assured  of  suc- 
cess. Behind  them  the  hills  seem  crowded  with  artil- 
lery, which  can  hurl  their  missiles  to  the  very  foot  of 
the  hills  upon  which  we  stand.  The  word  is  given  to 
advance.  How  gallant!}^  they  come  on  I  Xot  a  sound 
is  heard  from  our  side  except  the  sharp  crack  of  our 
skirmishers  as  they  fall  back  slowly  before  the  over- 
whelming advance.  The  air  seems  alive  with  the 
whistling  of  shot  and  shell  which  the  enemy  send  as 
precursors  to  their  infantry  charge.  Suddenly  a  bat- 
tery of  thirty  guns,  from  just  where  Ave  are  stand- 
ing, opens  upon  the  column  of  attack.  They  falter, 
and  reel,  and  stagger ;  they  rally,  and  break,  and  ral- 
ly again ;  but  in  vain:  flesh  and  blood  cannot  stand 
it ;  thev  retire  routed  and  confused.     At  that  moment 


TURNING-POINT   OF  THE   DAY.  353 

an  officer  gallops  wildl}^  up  to  General  Jackson,  and 
exclaims,  in  almost  breathless  haste  :  '  General,  the  en- 
emy have  broken  throiigli  Archer's  left,  and  General 
Gregg  says  he  must  have  help,  or  he  and  General 
Archer  will  both  lose  their  position/  The  general 
turned  round  as  quietly  as  if  nothing  extraordinary 
had  happened,  and  ordered  up  Early's  division  to  sup- 
port the  centre.  Yet  every  one  said  afterwards  that 
this  was  the  turning-point  of  the  day.  In  about  an 
hour  the  footing  which  the  enemy  had  gained  in  the 
Avood  was  recovered  by  Trimble  and  Thomas,  and  they 
were  pursued  far  into  the  plain.  This  was  all  I  saw  of 
the  fight." 

Longstreet's  troops  were  equallj^  successful  in  repell- 
ing their  opponents,  and  Avlien  the  day  closed  the  vic- 
tory was  complete. 

During  the  battle,  while  there  was  a  lull  in  the 
fiercest  hostilities,  General  Jackson,  desiring  to  inspect 
the  positions  of  the  enemy,  rode  to  his  extreme  right, 
dismounted,  and,  accompanied  only  by  his  aide,  Mr. 
Smith,  walked  far  out  into  the  plain.  They  were  soon 
singled  out  by  a  sharp-shooter,  who  sent  a  bullet  whiz- 
zing between  their  heads,  w^iich  were  not  more  than 
two  paces  apart.  The  general  turned  to  his  companion 
with  a  humorous  smile,  and  said :  "  Mr.  Smith,  had 
you  not  better  go  to  the  rear  ?    They  may  shoot  you !" 

At  the  close  of  this  memorable  day.  General  Jack- 
son went  to  his  tent,  and  there  found  Colonel  Boteler, 
who  was  his  right-hand  man  in  carrying  despatches 
to  the  government,  and  in  co-operating  with  him  in 
every  way.  The  colonel  w^as  invited  to  share  his  pallet 
with  him,  but  he  sat  up  himself  some  time  longer,  writ- 


3S4  LIFE   OF  GEXEILVL  THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 

ing  and  sending  despatches.  AVeariness  at  last  com- 
pelled him  to  throw  himself  down  without  undressing, 
and,  after  sleeping  profoundly  for  two  or  three  hours, 
he  rose,  lighted  his  candle,  and  continued  his  writing. 
In  glancing  around,  he  noticed  that  the  light  of  his 
candle  shone  full  in  the  face  of  his  friend,  whom  he 
supposed  to  be  still  sleeping,  and  with  the  (juick 
thoughtfulness  of  a  woman  he  placed  a  book  upon 
his  table  in  front  of  the  candle,  so  as  to  shield  his  face 
from  the  light  and  not  interrupt  his  slumber. 

General  Jackson  Avas  much  concerned  at  hearing  of 
the  mortal  wounding  of  General  Gregg,  of  South  Car- 
olina, on  the  previous  day.  About  four  o'clock  on 
this  morning  he  sent  for  Dr.  McGuire  to  learn  his 
condition,  which  he  was  told  was  beyond  hope.  The 
surgeon  was  requested  to  go  again  and  see  that  the 
dying  man  had  everything  he  could  desire,  but  by 
the  time  he  reached  his  bedside  footsteps  were  heard 
behind  him,  and  Jackson  appeared  in  the  doorway, 
having  been  impelled  by  his  feelings  to  follow  him- 
self, and  take  a  farewell  of  his  brave  and  heroic  sub- 
ordinate. The  brief  interview  was  tender  and  touch- 
ing, and  sad  and  silent  the  commander  rode  back  with 
Dr.  McGuire  to  his  tent. 

When  he  ordered  his  servant,  Jim,  to  bring  his 
"  Little  Sorrel "  for  him  to  ride  on  this  occasion,  Jim 
protested  against  his  using  this  horse,  which  he  had 
ridden  during  the  whole  of  the  battle  of  the  pre- 
vious da}^,  and  an  amusing  war  of  w^ords  ]:>assed  be- 
tween them ;  but  Jim  had  it  in  his  power  to  gain 
the  victory,  and  brought  out  another  horse,  which  the 
general  mounted,  and  rode  off,  attended  by  a  single 
aide. 


BURNSIDE   RETREATS  ACROSS   THE   RIVER.  385 

The  Confederate  generals  expected  a  renewal  of 
hostilities  tlie  next  day,  and  their  army  was  eager  for 
another  attack,  but  the  Federals  failed  to  advance. 
On  Monday,  the  15th,  a  Hag  of  truce  Avas  sent  by  the 
enemy,  requesting  permission  to  care  for  their  Avound- 
ed,  Avho  had  been  left  upon  the  frozen  ground  ever 
since  the  day  of  battle.  Then  under  the  cover  of 
night,  and  while  a  storm  of  wind  and  rain  Avas  raging, 
they  crossed  their  Avhole  force  over  the  river,  con- 
ducting their  retreat  so  silently  that  it  Avas  Avholly 
concealed  from  the  Confederates.  They  marched  in 
such  silence  throus^h  the  streets  of  Fredericksburo: 
that  tlie  people  generally  (who  had  been  shut  up  in 
their  homes)  did  not  know  that  the  vast  hordes  Avere 
pouring  out  of  their  toAvn.  When  a  few,  hearing  the 
continuous  tramp  of  men  and  horses,  looked  out  Avitli 
candles  in  hand,  they  Avere  startled  at  finding  the 
streets  packed  with  multitudes  Avith  faces  turned 
northward,  and  they  Avere  commanded  in  peremptor}^ 
Avhispers  :  "  Put  out  that  light !  put  out  that  light !" 
— AA^hile  some  of  the  oiRcers  even  rushed  up  to  them, 
bleAV  out  their  lights,  and  thrust  them  back  into  the 
houses.  When  the  dreary  morning  daAvned,  the  Con- 
federates Avere  surprised  to  find  that  the  mighty  host 
which  had  confronted  them  for  three  days  had  disap- 
peared from  before  Fredericksburg,  and  AA^ere  once 
more  in  their  camp  on  the  other  side  of  the  river. 
They  admitted  a  loss  of  twelve  tliousand  men  killed 
and  Avounded,  nine  thousand  small-arms,  and  about  a 
thousand  prisoners.  In  repelling  the  attacks  of  their 
vast  army,  General  Lee  had  less  than  tAventy-fiA^e 
thousand  men  actually  engaged,  and  had  lost  but  four 
thousand  tAvo  hundred.  Of  these  twenty -nine  hun- 
25 


386  I^IFE    '^F   GEXERAL   TUOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

dred  ^ve^e  killed  and  wounded  in  the  corps  of  Jack- 
son ;  and  there  were,  in  addition,  five  hundred  and 
twenty -six  otficers  and  men  captured.  This  great 
battle  of  Fredericksburg  ended  the  campaign  of  1862, 
which  to  the  Confederates  was  the  most  brilliant  and 
successful  of  the  war. 

December  16th  General  Jackson  wrote  to  his  wife : 

''  Yesterday,  I  regret  to  say,  I  did  not  send  you  a 
letter.  I  was  on  the  front  from  Ijefore  dawn  until 
after  sunset.  The  enemy,  through  God's  blessing, 
was  repulsed  at  all  points  on  Saturday,  and  I  trust 
that  our  Heavenly  Father  will  continue  to  bless  us. 
We  have  renewed  reason  for  gratitude  to  Ilim  for 
my  preservation  during  the  last  engagement.  AVe 
have  to  mourn  the  deaths  of  Generals  ]\raxey  Gregg 
and  Thomas  II.  E.  Cobb.  The  enemy  has  recrossed  to 
the  north  side  of  the  Eappahannock.  ...  I  was  made 
very  happy  at  hearing  through  my  baby  daughter's 
last  letter  that  she  had  entirely  recovered,  and  that 
she  '  no  longer  saw  the  doctors  gray  vrhiskers.'  1  was 
much  gratified  to  learn  that  she  was  beginning  to 
notice  and  smile  when  caressed.  I  tell  you,  I  would 
love  to  caress  her  and  see  her  smile.  Kiss  the  little 
darling  for  her  father  and  give  my  grateful  love  to 
sister  II ." 

''  December  18th.  Our  headquarters  are  now  about 
twelve  miles  below  Fredericksburg,  near  the  liouse  of 
Mr.  Eichard  Corbin,  which  is  one  of  the  most  beauti- 
ful buildings  I  have  seen  in  this  country.  It  is  said  to 
have  cost  sixtv  thousand  dollars.     Nio-ht  before  last 


CHANGE  OF   HEADQUARTERS,  387 

I  was  about  to  spend  the  night  in  the  woods,  but  sent 
to  ask  if  Ave  could  procure  our  supper  at  the  house. 
Mr.  Corbin  was  absent,  serving  as  a  private  in  the 
Virginia  cavalr}^,  but  Mrs.  Corbin  bountifully  supplied 
us,  and  requested  me  to  spend  the  night  at  her  house, 
which  invitation  was  thankfully  accepted,  and  I  had  a 
dehghtful  night's  rest.  The  next  morning  she  urged 
me  to  remain,  and  offered  me  a  neat  building  in  the 
yard  for  my  office,  but  I  declined,  and  am  now  about 
five  hundred  yards  from  the  house,  encamped  in  the 
woods.  She  told  me  that  if  at  any  time  I  needed 
house  room,  she  could  let  me  have  it.  [He  afterwards 
moved  into  the  office  in  the  yard,  and  spent  most  of 
the  time  he  was  in  winter-quarters  there.] 

"  Baby's  letters  are  read  with  great  interest,  and  it 
does  her  father's  heart  great  good  to  read  them.  .  .  . 
I  have  much  work  before  me,  and  to-day  I  expect 
to  commence  in  earnest.  The  reports  of  the  battles 
of  McDowell,  AVinchester,  Port  Eepublic,  Richmond, 
Manassas,  the  Maryland  campaign.  Harper's  Ferry, 
and  Fredericksburg  have  all  yet  to  be  written.  But 
something  has  been  done  towards  several  of  them  by 
my  staff." 

•'  Christmas,  1SG2.  Yesterday  I  received  the  baby's 
letter  with  its  beautiful  lock  of  hair.  How  I  do  want 
to  see  that  precious  baby !  and  I  do  earnestly  pray  for 
peace.  Oh  that  our  country  was  such  a  Christian, 
God-fearing  people  as  it  should  be !  Then  might  we 
very  speedily  look  for  peace.  Last  evening  I  received 
a  letter  from  Dr.  Dabney,  saying  :  '  One  of  the  high- 
est gratifications  both  Mrs.  Dabney  and  I  could  enjoy 
would  1)e  another  visit  from  Mrs.  Jackson  when  her 


3S8      LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

health  is  re-estabhshed,'  and  he  invites  me  to  meet  you 
there,  lie  and  Mrs.  Dabney  are  very  kind,  but  it  ap- 
pears to  me  that  it  is  better  f(Sr  me  to  remain  witli 
my  command  so  long  as  the  war  continues,  if  our 
gracious  Heavenly  Father  permits.  Tlie  army  suffers 
immensely  by  absentees.  If  all  our  troops,  officers 
and  men,  were  at  their  posts,  we  might,  through  God's 
blessing,  expect  a  more  speedy  termination  of  the  war. 
The  temporal  affairs  of  some  are  so  deranged  as  to 
make  a  strong  plea  for  their  returning  home  for  a 
short  time ;  but  our  God  has  greatly  blessed  me  and 
mine  during  my  absence  ;  and  whilst  it  Avould  be  a 
great  comfort  to  see  you  and  our  darling  httle  daugh- 
ter, and  others  in  whom  I  take  special  interest,  yet 
duty  appears  to  require  me  to  remain  with  m}^  com- 
mand. It  is  important  that  those  at  headquarters  set 
an  example  by  remaining  at  the  post  of  duty. 

''  Dr.  Dabney  writes :  '  Our  little  prayer-meeting  is 
still  meeting  daily  to  pray  for  our  army  and  leaders.' 
This  prayer-meeting  may  be  the  means  of  accomplish- 
ing more  than  an  army.  I  Avish  that  such  existed 
everywhere.  How  it  does  cheer  my  heart  to  hear  of 
God's  people  praying  for  our  cause  and  for  me!  I 
greatly  prize  tlie  prayers  of  the  pious.'' 

^•December  29th.  Yesterday  I  had  the  privilege 
of  attending  divine  service  in  a  church  near  General 
Iliirs  headquarters,  and  enjoyed  the  services  very 
much.  Dr.  White  says  in  a  recent  letter  that  our 
pew  at  home  has  been  constantly  occupied  by  AVheel- 
ing  refugees.  I  am  gratified  to  hear  it.  He  also 
adds,  '  How  we  would  rejoice  to  see  you  and  our  dear 
friend,  Mrs.  Jackson,  again  in  that  pew.  and  in  the 


ADVICE   TO  A  YOUXG   RELATIV^E.  3S9 

lecture -room  at  prayer -meetings !  We  still  meet  ev- 
er}^ Wednesday  afternoon  to  pray  for  our  army,  and 
especially  for  our  general.'  May  every  needful  bless- 
ing rest  upon  you  and  our  darling  child  is  the  earnest 
prayer  of  your  devoted  husband."' 

The  next  two  letters  were  written  to  a  young  rela- 
tive, a  nephew  of  Ids  mother  from  West  Virginia, 
who  applied  to  him  for  a  position  in  the  army  : 

..."  In  replv  to  your  intention  of  iroino"  into  ser- 
vice,  I  am  gratified  at  your  determination,  and  would 
recommend  you  to  enter  the  army  under  General  John 
Echols,  as  it  is  operating  in  the  western  part  of  the 
State,  to  which  climate  you  are  accustomed,  I  would 
like  to  have  you  with  me  if  I  had  a  place  to  which  I 
could  properly  assign  you;  but  you  had  better  join 
General  Echols  at  once,  and  by  your  attention  to 
duty  I  hope  you  will,  through  the  blessing  of  God, 
render  valuable  service  to  our  precious  cause." 

In  a  second  letter  of  April  2d,  1863,  he  says  : 

"  I  am  much  gratified  to  hear  that  you  followed  my 
suggestion,  and  trust  you  will  have  no  reason  to  regret 
it.  We  should  always  be  usefully  employed,  and  if 
we  are  faithful  in  doing  our  duty  in  one  position,  it 
frequently  follows  that  we  are  advanced  to  a  higher 
one.  In  regard  to  your  question  whether  our  section 
of  the  State  will  get  relief  this  summer,  I  am  unable 
to  say.  My  command  is  not  a  separate  one.  I  am 
under  General  Lee,  and  my  corps  forms  a  part  of  his 
army.     I  hope  the  Northwest  will  soon  be  reclaimed, 


390  LIFE    OF   GENERAL   THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 

but  1  do  not  know  what  the  government  designs  re- 
specting it  this  summer. 

"'  I  have  a  little  daughter,  and  have  named  her 
Julia  after  my  mother.  I  don't  suppose  you  have 
anv  recollection  of  mother,  as  she  has  been  dead  near- 
ly thirty  years.  In  the  summer  of  1855  I  visited  her 
grave  in  Fayette  County.  My  wife  and  child  are 
with  lier  father  in  North  Carolina. 

"  I  hope  you  are  a  Christian.  There  is  no  happi- 
ness like  that  experienced  by  a  child  of  God.  You 
have  an  interest  in  mv  prayers." 

The  following  incidents  are  from  the  pen  of  the 
Eev.  James  P.  Smitli,  D.D.,  of  Fredericksburg,  who 
was  a  member  of  General  Jackson's  staff : 

'•  When  I  was  a  private  soldier,  a  meml)er  of  the 
Eockbridge  Artillery,  I  went  to  headquarters  with  a 
written  application  for  leave  of  absence  for  one  night 
to  visit  a  sick  relative  in  a  distant  camp.  The  general 
kindly  recognized  me,  shook  hands,  and  when  I  pre- 
sented the  application  he  read  and  returned  it,  saying, 
'  I  can't  approve  your  leave  of  absence,  Mr.  Smith.'  I 
was  greatly  disappointed,  and  felt  somewhat  hurt  at 
what  seemed  to  me  to  be  a  harsh  and  arbitrary  decision ; 
but  Mrs.  Jackson  afterwards  told  me  that  he  wrote  to 
her  that  he  regretted  that  the  regulation  would  not  per- 
mit him  to  grant  the  leave.  [^Fr.  Smith  was  a  friend 
of  his  Avife.]  While  I  was  still  in  the  artillery,  in  the 
early  spring  of  18f)2,  and  encamped  at  Eude's  Hill,  the 
general  came  to  our  camp  one  day  in  my  absence,  and 
created  a  great  stir  by  asking  for  Coi'])oral  Smitli.  Great 
expectations  were  aroused  that  Corporal  Smith  was  to 


IXCIDENTS  TOLD  BY  REV.  DR.  J.  P.  SMITH.     391 

be  appointed  to  some  office  or  special  duty,  but  on  my 
return  it  was  found  he  had  called  to  leave  me  a pack- 
oxje  of  religious  tracts  for  distrihution  in  the  camp  ! 

"  At  Frederick  City,  Maryland,  I  received  a  message 
to  call  at  General  Jackson's  headquarters,  when  he 
asked  me  to  accept  the  position  of  aide-de-camp  on 
his  staff.  It  was  a  great  surprise  to  me,  and  at  first 
embarrassed  me.  lie  spoke  kindly  of  liis  desire  to 
have  me  with  him,  and  of  the  time  it  would  take  me 
to  prepare  for  his  service  [in  getting  a  uniform], 
saying,  '  I  have  hut  one  suit  myself^  sir^  He  gave  me 
leave  of  absence  from  the  army  for  six  days  to  go 
back  to  Yirginia  to  secure  clothing,  etc.,  saying, '  I  need 
3^our  services  as  soon  as  possible.'  He  was  exceeding- 
ly gracious  and  pleasant  in  manner  and  word  to  me. 

"  One  evening,  when  our  headquarters  were  at  Mi  In- 
wood,  Clarke  County,  Yirginia,  the  young  men  became 
convinced  that  the  general  and  his  army  would  pass 
over  the  mountain  gap  near  by  to  Eastern  Virginia.  I 
was  exceedingly  anxious  to  visit  Winchester  before  we 
went  east,  and  went  to  his  tent,  saying,  '  General,  as 
we  are  troino-  across  the  mountains  to-morrow,  I  wish 
to  go  to  Winchester  early  in  the  morning.'  He  smiled 
in  a  peculiar  way  and  said,  '  Are  you  going  over  the 
mountains  to-morrow?  Then,  certainly,  Mr.  Smith 
you  can  go  to  Winchester;  but  donH  tell  any  one  that 
we  are  going  over  the  mountains,'  and  he  laughed  at 
my  expense.  I  went  to  Winchester  early  in  the  morn- 
ing, and,  after  an  hour  or  so,  was  returning  on  the 
Milnwood  road,  when,  at  a  turn  of  the  road,  I  sudden- 
ly met  General  Jackson  and  staff.  He  laughed  as  I 
rode  up,  saying,  '  Are  you  going  over  the  mountains, 
Mr.  Smith  V    And  I  found  that,  instead  of  going  over 


392  LIFE    OF   GENERAL   THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 

the  mountains,  he  was  moving  his  headquarters  to 
Winchester,  apparently  for  the  winter. 

''  The  general  and  myself  rode  ^vith  orderlies  from 
Orange  Court-House  down  the  ])lank-road  in  Decem- 
ber, 1862,  dining  at  the  Rev.  Melzi  Chancellor's,  near 
the  AVilderness  church,  turning  to  the  right  at  Salem 
church,  where  we  saw  many  refugees  from  Fredericks- 
burg in  the  falling  snow.  We  passed  Mrs.  French's 
place,  and  found  General  Lee's  headquarters  after 
dark,  on  the  main  road,  the  tent  pitched  in  the  pine 
woods.  General  Lee's  reception  Avas  exceedingly  kind 
and  hospitable.  After  a  little  while  General  Jackson 
took  me  out,  and  told  me  to  ride  to  a  house  near  by 
and  ask  for  lodging  during  the  night.  The  host  was 
a  vehement  old  gentleman,  who  at  first  refused  sharp- 
ly to  hear  me,  but  when  I  succeeded  in  making  him 
understand  that  General  Jackson  wanted  entertain- 
ment, he  Avas  greatlv  aroused,  threw  open  his  door, 
and  told  me  to  tell  General  Jackson  to  come  at  once 
to  his  house — that  all  he  had  was  the  general's.  He 
entertained  us  with  great  hospitality  and  quite  com- 
fortably. The  next  night  our  tents  were  near  the  resi- 
dence of  Mrs.  French,  by  whose  invitation  the  general 
and  two  or  three  of  our  young  men  took  tea  with  her. 
It  was  a  charming  and  memorable  Sunday  evening. 
The  house  was  Avarm  and  bright,  and  the  society  most 
agreeable,  after  a  long  cami)aign  and  hard  marching. 
The  tea-table  Avas  more  than  attractiA'e.  I  remember 
the  froneral  as  seated  on  a  sofa,  between  i\lrs.  French 
and  old  Miss  Hetty  Lily,  and  that,  at  Mrs.  French's 
request,  he  took  the  family  Bible  and  conducted  fam- 
ily worship,  after  Avhich  Ave  took  lea\^e,  and  Avcnt 
throuii:h  the  snow  to  our  cheerless  tents. 


A   CHRISTMAS   DINNER.  393 

"  The  general  suggested  to  me  to  prepare  for  a  dinner 
on  Christmas  Day.  He  wished  to  invite  General  Lee 
and  others  to  dine  with  him.  I  had  the  crood  fortune 
to  secure  a  fine  turkey ;  a  bucket  of  oysters  came  from 
down  the  river;  a  box  was  received  by  the  general 
from  some  Staunton  ladies,  containing  a  variety  of 
good  things ;  and  our  dinner  was  quite  well  set  forth. 
Generals  Lee,  Stuart,  Eendleton,  and  others  were 
guests.  General  Lee  rallied  us  very  mucli  on  our  af- 
fectation—  a  dining-room  servant  with  a  white  apron 
on  specially  amused  him.  Lie  often  laughed  at  us  for 
'  playing  soldiers,'  and  said  we  lived  too  well. 

"  General  Jackson  always  enjoyed  the  visits  of  Gen- 
eral Stuart,  whose  gayety  and  humor  charmed  him, 
and  no  one  thought  of  being  so  familiar  with  our  gen- 
eral as  Stuart.  On  this  occasion  he  made  him, self  very 
merry  at  finding  Jackson  in  the  office  of  old  Mr.  Cor- 
bin,  whose  walls  were  decorated  with  pictures  of 
race-horses,  fine  stock,  game-cocks,  and  a  famous  rat- 
terrier/  To  the  great  amusement  of  Jackson  and  his 
guests,  Stuart  pretended  to  regard  these  as  General 
Jackson's  own  selectio/is,  and  as  indications  of  his  p/^i- 
vate  tastes  —  indicating  a  great  decline  in  his  moral 
character,  which  would  be  a  grief  and  disappointment 
to  the  pious  old  ladies  of  the  South.  To  add  to  the 
merriment,  General  Jackson  had  received  among  his 
presents  a  cake  of  butter,  with  a  gallant  chanticleer 
stamped  upon  it,  and  this  adorned  the  table.  General 
Stuart  held  it  up  in  his  hands,  and  called  the  company 
to  witness  that  their  host  actually  carried  his  sport- 
ing tastes  so  far  that  he  had  his  favorite  game-cock 
stamped  on  his  butter,  as  though  it  were  a  coat-of- 
arms  ! 


394  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

'*  During  the  winter  spent  at  Moss  Keck,  General 
Jackson  took  me  with  him  to  General  Lee's  liead- 
quarters  on  one  occasion  when  a  deep  snow  was  fall- 
ino".  General  Lee  said  he  reo:retted  that  General 
Jackson  should  come  out  such  a  day,  whereupon  the 
latter,  smiling  pleasantly,  said :  '  I  received  your  note, 
sir,  saying  you  wished  to  see  me.' 

''  I  remember  a  pleasant  visit  to  Ilayfield,  the  resi- 
dence of  a  Mr.  Taylor.  Generals  Lee,  Stuart,  Pendle- 
ton, and  Jackson  were  present,  Avith  Pelham  and  other 
staff-officers.  General  Lee  was  very  facetious,  and  de- 
scribed these  general  officers  to  old  JMrs.  Taylor  with 
much  good  humor.  He  told  her  that  '  General  Jack- 
son, Avho  was  smiling  so  pleasantly  near  her,  was  the 
most  cruel  and  inhuman  man  she  had  ever  seen.'  She 
demurred,  saying  she  had  always  heard  that  General 
Jackson  was  'a  goocl^  Christian  711  an.''  General  Lee 
said,  '  Why,  when  Ave  had  the  battle  up  at  Fredericks- 
burg, do  you  know,  Mrs.  Taylor,  it  Avas  as  i;nucli  as  Ave 
could  do  to  preA^ent  him  from  taking  his  men,  with 
bayonets  on  their  guns,  and  driving  the  enemy  into 
the  river  r  Mrs.  Taylor  began  to  see  his  humor,  and 
said :  '  Well,  General  Lee,  if  the  Yankees  ever  cross 
here,  at  our  place,  I  hope  you  Avoii't  prevent  liim  from 
driving  them  into  the  river.' " 

In  these  pleasant  Avinter-qufirters  at  Moss  Neck,  the 
residence  of  Mr.  Corbin,  General  Jackson  remained 
until  spring. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

WINTER-QUARTERS,  CHAPLAINS,  AND   CORRESPONDENCE— 

1863. 

After  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg  there  was  no 
other  advance  of  the  enemy  during  the  winter ;  and 
General  Jackson  spent  a  peacef  id,  but  very  industrious, 
winter  at  Moss  ^eck.  The  winter-quarters  of  his 
troops  extended  from  near  Guiney's  Station  towards 
Port  Royal;  and  after  providing  them  with  shelter, 
which  consisted  of  huts  built  by  themselves,  he  de- 
voted himself  to  writing  his  reports,  and  to  the  gen- 
eral welfare  of  his  troops,  both  temporal  and  spiritual. 
Particularly  did  he  bend  his  energies  towards  disci- 
plining and  strengthening  his  command.  The  almost 
superhuman  exertions  in  marching  and  fighting  had 
caused  many  soldiers  to  absent  themselves  from  the 
army  without  leave,  and  this  was  an  evil  for  which  he 
had  no  toleration,  and  which  he  made  the  most  stren- 
uous efforts  to  correct.  He  was  also  greatly  interested 
this  winter  in  providing  his  army  with  chaplains,  and 
in  trying  to  infuse  more  zeal  into  those  who  were  al- 
ready in  this  service.  He  encouraged  all  denomina- 
tions to  labor  in  his  command,  co-operating  with  each 
in  every  way  in  his  power.  All  he  wished  to  know  of 
a  man  was  that  he  was  a  true  Christian  and  an  earnest 
worker  in  the  cause  of' his  Master.  Roman  Catholics 
were  granted  the  same  facilities  as  Protestants  for 
holding  their  services.      On  one  occasion  a  priest  ap- 


396  LIFE   OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

plied  to  him  for  a  tent  in  whicli  to  conduct  worsliip  with 
soldiers  of  his  own  faith,  and  Jackson,  after  satisfying 
himself  b}^  inquiry  that  he  was  a  man  of  exemplary 
character,  granted  his  request,  and,  with  a  decision 
that  restrained  all  adverse  expressions  against  it,  he 
added :  "  He  shall  have  it,  I  care  not  what  may  be 
said  on  the  subject."  A  Presbyterian  minister,  in  de- 
scribing a  service  held  in  the  general's  camp,  said  : 
''  So  we  had  a  Presbyterian  sermon,  introduced  by 
Baptist  services,  under  the  direction  of  a  Methodist 
chaplain,  in  an  Episcopal  church  I  AVas  not  that  a 
beautiful  solution  of  the  vexed  ])roblem  of  Christian 
union  r 

Of  the  religious  character  of  General  Jackson  this 
preacher  said  :  ''  The  sentiment  whicli  fills  his  soul  is 
his  sense  of  the  necessity  and  power  of  prayer — prayer 
in  the  army ;  prayer  for  the  army ;  prayer  by  the 
whole  country.  I  am  sure  it  makes  him  glad  and 
strong  to  know  how  many  of  the  best  people  in  the 
world  pray  for  him  "without  ceasing."  lie  pictures  the 
general's  "  firm  and  hopeful  face,"  "  the  placid  dili- 
gence of  his  daily  toils,"  and  his  attendance  on  the 
service  in  the  little  log  church  built  by  his  own  sol- 
diers, "  which  was  already  so  full  upon  his  arrival  that 
the  men  were  said  to  be  packed  like  herrings  in  a  bar- 
rel, and  he  and  General  Paxton  modestly  retired,  lest 
they  should  displace  some  already  within.  One  could 
not  sit  in  that  pul})it  and  meet  the  concentrated  gaze 
of  those  men  without  deep  emotion.  I  remembered 
that  they  were  the  veterans  of  many  a  bloody  field. 
The  eyes  which  looked  into  mine,  waiting  for  the  gos- 
pel of  peace,  had  looked  as  steadfastly  upon  Avhatever 
is   terrible    in  war.      The  voices  which   now  poured 


CONCERN'    FOR   IIIS   SOLDIERS'  RELIGIOUS   WELFARE.     397 

forth  their  strength  in  singing  the  songs  of  Zion  had 
shouted  in  the  charge  and  the  victory.  .  .  .  Their 
earnestness  of  aspect  constantly  impressed  me.  .  .  . 
They  looked  as  if  they  had  come  on  business,  and  very 
important  business,  and  the  preacher  could  scarcely 
do  otherwise  than  feel  that  he,  too,  had  business  of 
moment  there  I" 

A  chaplain  relates  that  on  the  eve  of  the  battle  of 
Fredericksburg  he  saw  an  officer,  Avrapped  in  his  over- 
coat so  that  his  marks  of  rank  could  not  be  seen,  lying 
just  in  the  rear  of  a  battery,  quietly  reading  his  Bible. 
He  approached  and  entered  into  conversation  on  the 
prospects  of  the  impending  battle,  but  the  officer  soon 
changed  the  conversation  to  religious  topics,  and  the 
chaplain  was  led  to  ask,  "  Of  what  regiment  are 
you  chaplain?"  AVhat  was  his  astonishment  to  find 
that  the  quiet  Bible-reader  and  fluent  talker  upon  re- 
ligious subjects  was  none  other  than  the  famous 
Stonewall  Jackson. 

During  one  of  his  battles,  while  he  was  waiting  in 
the  rear  of  a  part  of  his  command  which  he  had  put 
in  position  to  engage  the  attention  of  the  enemy  while 
another  division  had  been  sent  to  flank  them,  a  young 
officer  on  his  staff  gave  him  a  copy  of  the  sketch  of 
"  Captain  Dabney  Carr  Harrison,"  a  young  Presbyte- 
rian minister,  widely  known  and  loved  in  Virginia, 
who  had  been  killed  at  Fort  Donelson.  He  expressed 
himself  as  highly  gratified  at  getting  the  sketch,  and 
entered  into  an  earnest  conversation  on  the  power  of 
Christian  example.  He  was  interrupted  by  an  officer, 
who  reported  ''  the  enemy  adrancing,"  but  paused  only 
long  enough  to  give  the  laconic  order,  ^'  Open  on  them," 
and  then  resumed  the  conversation,  which  he  contin- 


398      LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

ued  for  some  time,  only  pausing  now  and  then  to  re- 
ceive despatclies  and  give  necessary  orders. 

General  Jackson's  views  on  the  work  of  the  spirit- 
ual improvement  of  his  army,  which  so  absorbed  his 
heart  and  labors  the  last  winter  of  his  life,  are  ex- 
pressed in  a  letter  to  his  pastor,  in  which  he  says  : 

''You  suggest  that  I  give  my  views  and  wishes  in 
such  form  and  extent  as  I  am  willino:  sliould  be  made 
public.  This  I  shrink  from  doing,  because  it  looks  like 
presumption  in  me  to  come  before  the  public  and  even 
intimate  what  course  I  think  should  be  pursued  by  the 
people  of  God.  I  have  had  so  little  experience  in 
church  matters  as  to  make  it  proper,  it  seems  to  me, 
to  keep  quiet  beyond  the  expression  of  my  views  to 
friends.  Whilst  I  feel  that  this  is  the  proper  course 
for  me  to  pursue,  and  the  one  which  is  congenial  to 
my  feelings,  yet  if  you  and  Colonel  Preston,  who  have 
both  had  large  experience  in  the  church,  after  prayer- 
ful consideration,  are  of  opinion  that  my  name,  in  con- 
nection with  my  wishes,  will  be  the  means  of  doing- 
good,  I  do  not  desire  any  sensibdity  that  I  may  have 
to  be  a  drawback  in  the  way.  I  desire  myself  and  all 
that  I  have  to  be  dedicated  to  the  service  of  God.  .  .  . 
After  maturely  considering  what  I  write,  and  after 
prayerful  consultation  between  yourself  and  Colonel 
Preston,  you  can  with  pro})riety  publish,  should  you 
think  best,  anything  I  may  have  said,  icithout  saying 
that  such  vxts  my  view. 

"My  views  are  summed  up  in  these  few  words: 
Each  Christian  branch  of  the  Church  should  send 
into  the  army  some  of  its  most  prominent  ministers, 
who   are   distinguished  for   their  piety,  talents,  and 


CHAPLAIXS  IX   THE   ARMY.  399 

zeal ;  and  such  ministers  should  labor  to  produce  con- 
cert of  action  among  chaplains  and  Christians  in  the 
army.     These  ministers  should  give  special  attention 
to  preaching  to  regiments  which  are   without  chap- 
lains, and  induce  them  to  take  steps  to  get  chaplains ; 
to  let  the   regiments   name   the   denomination   from 
which  they  desire  chaplains  selected ;  and  then  to  see 
that  suitable  chaplains  are  secured.     A  bad  selection 
of  a  chaplain  may  prove  a  curse  instead  of  a  blessing. 
If  a   few  prominent  ministers  thus   connected   with 
each  army  would  cordially  co-operate,  I  believe  that 
glorious  fruits  would  be  the  result.     Denominational 
distinctions    should   be   kept    out   of  view,  and   not 
touched  upon;  and,  as  a  general  rule,  I  do  not  think 
that   a  chaplain   who   would  preach  denominational 
•  sermons  should  be  in  the  army.      His  congregation  is 
his  regiment,  and  it  is  composed  of  persons  of  various 
denominations.     I    would   like    to    see   no   questions 
asked  in  the  army  as  to  what  denomination  a  chap- 
lain belongs ;  but  let  the  question  be, '  Does  he  i^reach 
the  Gospel  V    The  neglect  of  spiritual  interests  in  the 
army  may  be  partially  seen  in  the  fact  that  not  half 
of  my  regiments  have  chaplains." 

General  Jackson  selected  the  Eev.  Dr.  B.  T.  Lacy 
(who  was  commissioned  by  the  government  as  a 
general  chaplain)  to  begin  this  plan  of  labor,  and  it 
proved  very  successful.  His  mission  was  to  preach  at 
headquarters  every  Sabbath  while  the  troops  were 
in  camp.  A  temporary  pulpit  and  rough  seats  were 
constructed  in  an  open  field,  and  here  all  were  invited 
to  come  and  worship.  Dr.  Lacy  was  an  able  speak- 
er, attractive  and  interesting  ;   and  the  constant  at- 


400  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

tendance  of  General  Jackson  and  frequent  appear- 
ance of  General  Lee  and  other  distinguished  officers 
soon  drew  vast  crowds  of  soldiers  to  the  scene,  and 
many  l)ecame  changed  men.  General  Jackson  often 
seated  himself  in  the  ranks,  in  the  midst  of  his  hum- 
blest soldiers,  setting  them  an  example  by  his  devout 
attention  and  delight  in  the  services,  and,  by  his  per- 
sonal interest,  leading  them  to  follow  the  great  Cap- 
tain of  their  salvation.  He  requested  all  the  chaplains 
and  evangelists  in  his  corps  to  meet  together  Aveekly 
for  conference  over  their  duties,  and  to  report  the 
progress  of  their  labors,  llis  sense  of  delicacy  for- 
bade his  own  attendance  on  these  meetings,  but  he 
manifested  the  liveliest  interest  in  them  —  always 
greeting  Dr.  Lacy  upon  his  return  from  the  meetings 
in  his  accustomed  military  style,  saying  to  him : 
"  Xow  come  and  report."  "  The  stated  meetings  of 
the  chaplains,"  says  Dr.  Dal)ney,  "  were  the  means  of 
awakening  them  to  a  greatly  increased  zeal  and  fidel- 
ity, as  well  as  of  adding  system  and  concert  to  their 
labors,  so  that  this  service  was  now  thoroughly  reno- 
vated. Thus  the  energy  of  General  Jackson's  will, 
though  so  modestly  exerted,  made  itself  felt  among 
his  chaplains,  just  as  among  his  staflP  and  field  officers, 
in  communicating  efficiency  and  vigor  to  all  their 
performance  of  duty." 

The  Stonewall  Brigade  was  the  first  to  build  a  log 
chapel,  which  Avas  formally  dedicated  to  the  service 
of  God.  Others  soon  followed  the  exam])le,  and,  thus 
protected  against  the  rigors  of  Avinter,  the  soldiers 
frequently  met  during  the  Aveek  for  ]>rayer,  praise, 
and  Bible  instruction — the  sacred  pages  being  illumi- 
nated by  pine  torches  from  the  forest.    General  Jack- 


WORSHIP   IX    THE  OPEX  AIR..  401 

son  often  attended  these  meetings,  and  led  in  iiumble, 
earnest  prayer. 

General  J.  B.  Gordon,  the  late  Governor  of  Georgia, 
and  now  for  the  second  time  representing  his  State 
in  the  United  States  Senate,  testifies  to  the  good 
wrought  by  these  services  in  the  army.  In  a  letter 
appealing  for  chaplains  to  be  sent  by  the  churches, 
he  says:  ^' Daily  in  the  great  temple  of  nature,  and 
at  night  by  heaven's  chandeliers,  are  audiences  of 
from  one  to  two  thousand  men  anxious  to  hear  the 
way  of  life.  Many  of  them,  neglected,  as  I  must  say 
they  have  been  by  Christians  at  home,  are  daily  pro- 
fessing religion  —  men  grown  old  in  sin,  and  who 
never  blanched  in  the  presence  of  the  foe,  are  made 
to  tremble  under  a  sense  of  guilt,  and  here  in  the 
forests  and  fields  are  beino^  converted  to  God ;  voung- 
men,  over  whose  departure  from  the  ^Daternal  roof 
and  from  pious  influences  have  been  shed  so  many 
bitter  tears,  have  been  enabled,  under  the  preaching 
of  a  few  faithful  ministers,  to  give  parents  and  friends 
at  home  such  assurances  as  to  change  those  hitter 
tears  into  tears  of  rejoicing." 

General  Jackson  had  one  other  project  for  the 
spiritual  welfare  of  his  country,  which  was  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  Christian  daily  newspaper.  Ilis  views 
on  this  subject  will  be  seen  in  the  following  letter  to 
his  father-in-law : 

"  Near  Fredericksbueg,  March  28tb,  1863. 
"  Eev.  Dr.  E.  H.  Morrison  : 

"  Dear  Sir, — Knowing  that  you  take  a  deep  interest 
in  the  progress  of  the  church,  I  write  to  say  that  on 
yesterday  the  proclamation  of  our  President  for  a 
26 


402      LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

(lav  of  humiliation  and  prayer  received  in  the  army 
a  more  general  response  than  I  have  seen  on  any 
similar  occasion  since  the  beginning  of  the  war.  .  .  . 
It  was  arranged  among  the  chaplains  that  each  one 
of  them  should  preach  twice  yesterday — once  to  their 
own  troops,  and  once  to  other  troops,  thus  giving  an 
opportunity  of  having  the  Gospel  preached  as  exten- 
sively as  practicable.  I  trust  that  yesterday  was  a 
solemn  day  throughout  the  Confederacy,  and  hope 
its  good  fruits  will  be  abundant,  and  that  God  in 
His  mercy  will  give  us  a  speedy  peace,  so  marked 
by  His  interposing  hand  that  all  shall  recognize  and 
acknowledge  it  as  His  gift. 

'•  I  feel  a  deep  interest  in  seeing  a  Christian  daily 
paper  established.  I  believe  there  is  not  a  single  daily 
paper  in  the  countr}^  but  which  violates  the  Sabbath 
by  printing  on  that  holy  day  for  its  Monday's  issue. 
I  have  thought  upon  this  subject  for  several  years,  and 
it  appears  to  me  that  now  is  a  good  time  to  start 
such  a  paper  whilst  our  country  is  in  trouble,  and  is 
looking  to  God  for  assistance.  How  can  we  consist- 
ently ask  God  to  bless  us  Avlien  we  continue  to  en- 
courage, for  the  gratification  of  curiosity,  a  disregard 
for  His  holy  law  ?  Such  a  paper  as  it  appears  to  me 
is  demanded  would  give  us  as  early  news  as  is  at 
present  received  at  the  printing-office  on  Sunday,  as 
the  paper,  which  would  be  mailed  on  Monday,  ^vould 
be  printed  on  Saturday  instead  of  Sunday.  H  such 
a  paper  could  be  established,  it  might  be  the  means 
of  influencing  the  future  course  of  our  country.  AYhat 
do  you  think  of  such  an  undertaking  ? 
"  Very  truly  yours, 

"  T.  J.  Jackson." 


LETTER   OX   SUNDAY  MAILS.  403 

His  increasing  solicitude  for  the  spiritual  good  of  his 
country  is  shown  in  the  following  letter  to  Colonel 
Boteler  on  the  subject  of  Sabbath  mails.  These  views 
have  before  been  given ;  but  as  this  letter  was  per- 
haps his  last  appeal  on  the  subject,  this  fact  may  add 
more  weight  to  them : 

'•  I  have  read  the  Congressional  report  of  the  com- 
mittee recommending  the  repeal  of  the  law  requiring 
the  mails  to  be  carried  on  the  Sabbath ;  and  I  hope 
that  you  will  feel  it  a  duty  as  well  as  a  pleasure  to 
urge  its  repeal.  I  do  not  see  how  a  nation  that  thus 
arra.ys  itself,  by  such  a  law,  against  God's  holy  day 
can  expect  to  escape  His  wrath.  The  punishment  of 
national  sins  must  be  confined  to  this  world,  as  there 
are  no  nationalities  beyond  the  grave.  For  fifteen 
years  I  have  refused  to  mail  letters  on  Sunday,  or  to 
take  them  out  of  the  office  on  that  day,  except  since 
I  came  into  the  field  ;  and,  so  far  from  having-  to 
regret  my  course,  it  has  been  a  source  of  true  enjoy- 
ment. I  have  never  sustained  loss  in  observino-  what 
God  enjoins;  and  I  am  well  satisfied  that  the  law 
should  be  repealed  at  the  earliest  practicable  moment. 
My  rule  is,  to  let  the  Sabbath  mails  remain  unopened, 
unless  they  contain  a  despatch;  but  despatches  are 
generally  sent  by  couriers  or  telegraph,  or  some  spe- 
cial messenger.  I  do  not  recollect  a  single  instance 
of  any  special  despatch  having  reached  me,  since  the 
commencement  of  the  war,  by  the  mails. 

"If  you  desire  the  repeal  of  the  law,  I  trust  you 
will  bring  all  your  influence  to  bear  in  its  accomplish- 
ment. Kow  is  the  time,  it  appears  to  me,  to  effect  so 
desirable  an  object.     I  understand  that  not  onlv  our 


404  LIFE   OF   GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

President,  but  also  most  of  his  Cabinet  and  a  ma- 
jority of  our  Congressmen  are  professing  Christians. 
God  lias  greatly  blessed  us,  and  I  trust  He  will  make 
us  that,  people  whose  God  is  the  Lord.  Let  us  look 
to  God  for  an  illustration  in  our  history  that  'right- 
eousness exalteth  a  nation,  but  sin  is  a  reproach  to 
any  people.' 

''  Yery  truly  your  friend, 

"  T.  J.  Jacksox." 


To  his  friend  Colonel  Preston,  of  Lexington,  he 
Avrote  with  the  same  zeal,  saying : 


"  I  greatly  desire  to  see  iieRce—hlesserl  jieace.  And 
I  am  persuaded  that  if  God's  people  throughout  the 
Confederacy  will  earnestly  and  perse veringly  unite  in 
imploring  His  interposition  for  peace,  we  may  expect 
it.  Let  our  government  acknowledge  the  God  of 
the  Bible  as  its  God,  and  we  may  expect  soon  to  be 
a  happy  and  independent  people.  It  appears  to  me 
that  extremes  are  to  be  avoided ;  and  it  also  appears 
to  me  that  the  old  United  States  occupied  an  extreme 
position  in  the  means  it  took  to  prevent  the  union  of 
Church  and  State.  AYe  call  ourselves  a  Christian  peo- 
ple ;  and,  in  my  opinion,  our  government  may  be  of 
the  same  character,  without  connecting  itself  with  an 
established  Church.  It  does  appear  to  me  that  as  our 
President,  our  Congress,  and  our  people  have  thanked 
God  for  victories,  and  prayed  to  Him  for  additional 
ones,  and  He  has  answered  such  prayers  and  gives  us 
a  government,  it  is  gross  ingratitude  not  to  acknowl- 
edge Him  in  this  gift.  Let  the  framework  of  our  gov- 
ernment show  that  Ave  are  not  uno^rateful  to  Him." 


VISIT   OF   AX   ENGLISH   OFFICER.  405 

In  the  beginning  of  the  new  year,  AYinchester  was 
again  occupied  by  the  Federals.  An  extract  from 
a  letter  to  his  helpful  friend,  Colonel  Boteler,  will 
show  General  Jackson's  great  concern  and  affection 
for  his  valley  friends : 

''  Though  I  have  been  relieved  from  command 
there,  and  may  never  again  be  assigned  to  that  im- 
portant trust,  yet  I  feel  deeply  when  I  see  the  patri- 
otic people  of  that  region  again  under  the  heel  of  a 
hateful  military  despotism.  There  are  all  the  homes 
of  those  who  have  been  with  me  from  the  commence- 
ment of  the  war  in  Virginia ;  who  have  repeatedly 
left  their  families  and  homes  in  the  hands  of  the 
enemy,  and  braved  the  dangers  of  battle  and  disease; 
and  there  are  those  who  have  so  devotedly  labored 
for  the  relief  of  our  suffering  sick  and  wounded." 

In  another  letter  to  the  same  friend,  he  says  :  '"  It 
is  but  natural  that  I  should  feel  a  deep  and  abiding 
interest  in  the  people  of  the  valley,  where  are  the 
homes  of  so  many  of  my  brave  soldiers  who  have 
been  with  me  so  long,  and  whose  self-sacrificing 
patriotism  has  been  so  long  tested." 

During  this  winter  General  Jackson  received  a  visit 
from  a  captain  in  the  English  army,  who  wrote  an  ac- 
count of  it  for  an  Enghsh  paper  or  magazine,  from 
which  the  following  is  a  brief  extract : 

''  1  brought  from  I^assau  a  box  of  goods  for  General 
Stonewall  Jackson,  and  he  asked  me  when  I  Avas  at 
Richmond  to  come  to  his  camp  and  see  him.  I  left 
the  city  one  morning  about  seven  o'clock,  and  about 


406     LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

ten  landed  at  a  station,  distant  some  eight  or  nine 
miles  from  Jackson's  (or,  as  his  men  call  him,  '  Old 
Jack's')  camp.  A  hea\y  fall  of  snow  had  covered 
the  country  for  some  time  before  to  the  depth  of  a 
foot,  and  formed  a  crust  over  the  Virginia  mud,  which 
is  quite  as  villainous  as  that  of  Balaklava.  The  da}^ 
before  had  been  mild  and  wet,  and  my  journe}^  was 
made  in  a  drenching  shower,  which  soon  cleared  awav 
tlie  white  mantle  of  snow.  You  cannot  imagine  the 
slough  of  despond  I  had  to  pass  tlirough.  AVet  to  the 
skin,  I  stumbled  through  mud,  I  waded  through  creeks, 
I  passed  through  pine  woods,  and  at  last  got  into  camj) 
about  two  o'clock.  I  then  made  my  wa^^  to  a  small 
house  occupied  by  the  general  as  his  headquarters.  I 
wrote  down  my  name  and  gave  it  to  the  orderly,  and 
I  was  immediately  told  to  walk  in. 

'•  The  general  rose  and  greeted  me  warmly.  I  ex- 
pected to  see  an  old,  untidy  man,  and  was  most  agree- 
ably surprised  and  pleased  with  his  appearance.  He 
is  tall,  handsome,  and  powerfully  built,  but  thin.  lie 
has  brown  hair  and  a  brown  beard.  His  mouth  ex- 
presses great  determination.  The  lips  are  thin  and 
compressed  firmly  together;  his  eyes  are  blue  and 
dark,  with  keen  and  searching  expression.  I  was  told 
that  his  age  Avas  thirty-eight;  and  he  looks  forty. 
The  general,  who  is  indescribably  simple  and  unaf- 
fected in  all  his  ways,  took  off  m}^  Avet  overcoat  Avith 
his  own  hands,  made  up  the  fire,  In'ought  wood  for 
me  to  put  my  feet  on  to  keep  them  Avarm  Avhile  my 
boots  Avere  drying,  and  then  began  to  ask  me  ques- 
tions on  A^arious  subjects.  At  the  dinner-hour  we 
Avent  out  and  joined  the  members  of  his  staff.  At 
this  meal  the  general  said  grace  in  a  fervent,  quiet 


THE  OFFICER'S   IMPRESSIOXS.  407 

manner,  which  struck  me  very  much.  xViter  dinner 
I  returned  to  his  room,  and  he  again  talked  for  a  long 
time.  The  servant  came  in  and  took  his  mattress  out 
of  a  cupboard  and  laid  it  on  the  floor. 

"  As  I  rose  to  retire,  the  general  said :  '  Captain, 
there  is  plenty  of  room  on  my  bed ;  I  hope  3^ou  will 
share  it  with  me.'  I  thanked  him  very  much  for  his 
courtesy,  but  said,  '  Good-night,'  and  slept  in  a  tent, 
sharing  the  blankets  of  one  of  his  aides-de-camp.  In 
the  morning,  at  breakfast-time,  I  noticed  that  the 
general  said  grace  before  the  meal  with  the  same 
fervor  I  had  remarked  before.  An  hour  or  two  after- 
wards it  was  time  for  me  to  return  to  the  station  ;  on 
this  occasion,  however,  I  had  a  horse,  and  I  returned 
up  to  the  general's  headquarters  to  bid  him  adieu. 
His  little  room  was  vacant,  so  I  stepped  in  and  stood 
before  the  fire.  I  then  noticed  my  great-coat  stretched 
before  it  on  a  chair.  Shortly  afterwards  the  general 
entered  the  room.  He  said :  ^  Captain,  I  have  been 
trying  to  dry  your  great-coat,  but  I  am  afraid  I  have 
not  succeeded  very  well.'  That  little  act  illustrates 
the  man's  character.  With  the  care  and  responsi- 
bilities of  a  vast  army  on  his  shoulders,  he  finds  time 
to  do  little  acts  of  kindness  and  thoughtfulness,  which 
make  him  the  darling  of  his  men,  who  never  seem  to 
tire  talking  of  him. 

"  General  Jackson  is  a  man  of  great  endurance ;  he 
drinks  nothing  stronger  than  water,  and  never  uses  to- 
bacco or  any  stimulant.  He  has  been  known  to  ride  for 
three  days  and  nights  at  a  time,  and  if  there  is  any  labor 
to  be  undergone  he  never  fails  to  take  his  share  of  it." 

During  this  winter,  at  Moss  Xeck,  General  Jack- 


-tOS  LIFE   OF   GEXERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

son's  Christian  activity  and  spirituality  became  more 
marked  than  ever  before,  showing  a  rich  ripening  for 
the  rewards  and  glories  of  the  heavenly  inheritance. 
To  a  friend  he  expressed  his  perfect  assurance  of  faith, 
and  said  he  had  been  for  a  long  time  a  stranger  to 
fear,  "  because  he  hnew  and  vms  as-mred  of  the  love  of 
Christ  to  his  soul ;  he  felt  not  the  faintest  dread  that 
he  should  ever  fall  under  the  wrath  of  God,  although 
a  great  sinner;  he  was  forever  reconciled  by  the 
righteousness  of  Christ,  and  that  love  for  God  and 
Christ  vras  now  the  practical  spring  of  all  his  peni- 
tence." lie  then  arose  from  his  seat,  and  with  an 
impressive  union  of  humility  and  solemn  elevation 
continued,  in  substance,  thus  :  "  Nothing  earthly  can 
mar  my  happiness.  I  know  that  heaven  is  in  store  for 
me ;  and  I  should  rejoice  in  the  prospect  of  going 
there  to-morrow.  Understand  me :  I  am  not  sick,  I 
am  not  sad ;  God  has  greatly  blessed  me ;  I  have  as 
much  to  love  here  as  any  man,  and  life  is  very  bright 
to  me.  But  still  I  am  ready  to  leave  it  any  day, 
\vithout  trepidation  or  regret,  for  that  heaven  which 
I  know  awaits  me,  through  the  mercy  of  my  Heavenly 
Father.  And  I  would  not  agree  to  the  slightest  diminu- 
tion of  one  shade  of  my  glor}^  there — [here  he  paused, 
as  though  to  consider  what  terrestrial  measure  he  might 
best  select  to  express  the  largeness  of  his  joys] — no, 
not  for  all  the  fame  I  have  acquired  or  shall  ever  win 
in  this  world."  '^Yitll  these  words  he  sank  into  his 
chair,  and  his  friend  retired,  impressed  as  he  had  never 
been  before  by  the  exalted  faith  and  perfect  assurance 
that  God  had  vouchsafed  to  this  Christian  soldier. 

All  his  Christian  friends  observed  this  winter  how 
much  his  mind  dwelt  upon  spiritual  matters,  his  con- 


HIS  FONDNESS   FOR  A   CHILD.  409 

versation  almost  invariably  drifting  into  that  channel; 
and  his  favorite  subjects  were  steadfastness  of  faith, 
dihgent  performance  of  duty,  after  invoking  God's 
blessing  and  committing  our  cause  to  Him,  and  yield- 
ing a  perfect  obedience  to  His  will.  He  loved  to  con- 
sider the  modes  by  which  God  reveals  His  will  to  man, 
and  often  quoted  the  maxim,  ''  Duty  is  ours ;  conse- 
quences are  God's."  It  was  a  continued  dehght  to  him 
to  dwell  upon  the  blessedness  of  perfect  acquiescence 
in  the  Divine  will.  He  frequently  said  that  his  first 
desire  was  to  command  a  "  converted  army." 

But  Avhile  thus  desiring  and  striving  for  the  spiritual 
good  of  his  men,  his  diligence  was  also  unremitting  in 
training  and  strengthening  his  corps  for  active  service 
in  the  coming  campaign,  and  it  increased  in  efficiency 
and  numbers  more  than  at  any  former  period.  It  was 
brought  up  to  number  over  thirt}^  thousand  active  sol- 
diers, who  drew  their  inspiration  from  his  own  spirit 
of  confidence  and  determination. 

In  the  family  of  Mr.  Corbin,  of  Moss  Xeck,  Avas  a 
lovely  little  girl,  about  six  years  of  age,  named  Jane, 
who  became  a  special  pet  with  General  Jackson.  Her 
pretty  face  and  winsome  ways  were  so  charming  to 
him  that  he  requested  her  mother  as  a  favor  that  he 
might  have  a  visit  from  her  every  afternoon  when  his 
day's  labors  were  over,  and  her  innocent  companion- 
ship and  sweet  prattle  were  a  great  pleasure  and  recre- 
ation to  him.  He  loved  to  hold  her  upon  his  knee, 
and  sometimes  he  played  and  romped  with  her,  his 
hearty  laughter  mingling  merrily  with  that  of  the 
child.  He  always  had  some  little  treat  in  store  for  her 
as  she  came  each  day — an  orange,  an  apj)le,  cand}^  or 
cake;  but  the  supply  of  such  things  becoming  exhaust- 


4:10  LHE   OF  GEXERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

ed  in  his  scanty  quarters,  one  afternoon  lie  found 
he  had  notliing  tempting  to  offer  lier,  and  in  glanc- 
ing around  the  room  his  eye  fell  u})on  a  new  gray 
cap  which  he  had  just  received  from  his  Avife,  and 
which  Avas  ornamented  with  a  simple  band  of  gilt 
braid — the  most  modest  mark  of  his  rank  that  a  field 
officer  could  Avear.  Taking  up  this  cap,  Avith  his  knife 
he  ripped  off  the  band,  and  encircling  it  around  little 
Janie's  fair  head,  he  stood  off  admiringly,  and  said : 
''  This  shall  be  your  coronet  I'' 

This  little  one  of  tender  years  AA^as  destined  to  pre- 
cede her  friend  to  the  "  land  of  pure  delight."  The 
A^ery  day  of  his  removal  from  Moss  xS^eck  she  died. 
His  aide,  Mr.  Smith,  said :  "  AVe  learned  of  Janie's 
death  after  Ave  reached  our  new  camp,  near  Yerby's, 
and  Avhen  I  went  in  to  tell  the  general,  he  Avas  much 
moved,  and  Avept  freely.  Afterwards  he  requested  me 
to  ride  back  to  Moss  Xeck  that  night  to  express  his 
sympathy,  and  to  remain  to  be  of  any  service  that  I 
could  to  the  family." 

General  Jackson  himself  thus  alludes  to  the  death 
of  his  little  favorite  in  one  of  his  letters :  "  I  never 
Avrote  you  about  the  bereavement  of  my  kind  friend 
Mrs.  Corbin.  She  had  an  only  daughter,  probably 
al)Out  five  or  six  years  old,  and  one  of  the  most  at- 
tractive, if  not  the  most  so,  that  I  ever  saAv  at  that 
age.  A  short  time  before  I  left  there,  the  little  girl 
was  taken  sick  Avith  scarlet  fever,  but  appeared  to  be 
doinfi:  Avell.  I  called  to  see  JMrs.  Corbin  the  CA^enino^ 
before  leaving,  and  talked  to  her  of  her  little  daugh- 
ter, Avhom  I  supposed  to  be  out  of  danger,  and  she  too 
appeared  to  think  so ;  but  the  next  morning  she  Avas 
taken  very  ill,  and  in  a  few  hours  died  of  malignant 


DEATH   OF   HIS   LITTLE   FAVORITE.  ^H 

scarlet  fever.  There  were  two  other  little  children, 
cousins  of  little  Janie,  who  were  staying  at  the  same 
house,  and  both  of  them  died  of  the  same  disease  in  a 
few  days."  He  was  led  to  speak  of  these  deaths  by 
hearing  of  the  loss  of  my  sister  Mrs.  Avery's  first- 
born, of  which  he  says :  ''  We  can  sympathize  with 
her,  and  I  wish  I  could  comfort  her,  but  no  human 
comfort  can  fully  meet  her  case ;  only  the  Eedeemer 
can,  and  I  trust  that  she  finds  Jesus  precious,  most 
precious,  in  this  her  sad  hour  of  trial.  Give  my  ten- 
derest  love  and  sjniipathy  to  her." 

About  this  time  his  own  little  daughter  had  a  severe 
case  of  chicken-pox,  and  his  parental  anxieties  were 
greatly  awakened.  In  his  desire  to  render  all  the  aid 
he  could,  even  at  so  great  a  distance,  he  consulted  his 
medical  director,  Dr.  McGuire,  that  he  might  write 
his  wife  the  advice  prescribed.  His  tender  devotion 
to'  the  little  daughter  whom  he  had  never  seen  was 
surprising  to  the  young  doctor,  and  his  voice  quivered 
with  agitation  as  he  said  on  leaving  him,  "  I  do  wish 
that  dear  child,  if  it  is  God's  will,  to  be  spared  to  us." 

The  following  extracts  from  his  letters  testify  to 
this  same  paternal  interest  and  affection,  and  also  re- 
veal his  ever-increasing  spiritual  joy  and  gratitude  : 

"  JaniiaiT  5tli,  1863. 

.  .  .  ''  How  much  I  do  want  to  see  you  and  our 
darhng  baby !  But  I  don't  know  when  I  shall  have 
this  happiness,  as  I  am  afraid,  since  hearing  so  much 
about  the  little  one's  health,  that  it  would  be  impru- 
dent to  bring  it  upon  a  journey,  so  I  must  just  con- 
tent myself.  Mrs.  General  Longstreet,  Mrs.  General 
A.  P.  Hill,  and  Mrs.  General  Kodes  have  all  been  to 


412      LIFE  OF  GEXERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

see  their  liiisbaiuls.  Yesterday  1  saw  ^Irs.  Rodes 
at  church,  and  she  looked  so  happy  tliat  it  made 
me  wish  I  had  Mrs.  Jackson  here  too ;  l)ut  whilst  I 
cannot  see  my  wife  and  baby,  it  is  a  great  comfort 
to  know  that  you  have  a  darling  little  pet  to  keep 
you  company  in  my  absence.  ...  I  heard  a  good  ser- 
mon at  Grace  Church  (where  General  Hill  has  his 
headquarters)  by  an  Episcopal  minister,  Mr.  Friend. 
Colonel  Faulkner  is  with  us  again,  and  I  expect  him 
to  take  the  position  of  my  senior  adjutant-general." 

"January  Cth.  I  am  very  thankful  to  our  kind 
Heavenly  Father  for  good  tidings  from  you  and  baby 
— specially  that  she  is  restored  again  to  health,  and  I 
trust  that  we  all  three  may  so  live  as  most  to  glorify 
His  holy  name.  ...  I  have  a  visor,  but  I  hope  I  shall 
not  have  to  sleep  in  a  tent  any  more  this  winter.  My 
ears  are  still  troubling  me,  but  I  am  very  thankful 
that  my  hearing  is  as  good  as  usual,  and  from  my  ap- 
pearance one  would  suppose  that  I  was  perfectly  well. 
Indeed,  my  health  is  essentially  good,  but  I  do  not 
think  I  shall  be  able  in  future  to  stand  what  I  have 
already  stood,  although,  ^vith  the  exception  of  the  in- 
creased sensitiveness  of  my  ears,  my  health  has  im- 
proved. I  am  sorry  to  hear  that  dear  mother's  health 
does  not  improve.  .  .  .  We  have  several  cases  of  small- 
pox at  Guiney's,  and  I  expect  you  will  have  to  give  up 
all  idea  of  coming  to  see  me  until  spring,  as  I  fear  it 
would  be  too  much  of  a  risk  for  you  and  baby  to  travel 
up  here. 

.  "The  other  day  I  received  from  the  citizens  of 
Augusta  County  a  magnificent  horse,  with  an  excel- 
lent saddle  and  bridle.    It  is  the  most  complete  riding 


LETTER  TO  HIS  WIFE.  413 

equipment  that  I  have  seen.  My  kind  friends  went  so 
far  as  to  get  patent  stirrups,  constructed  so  as  to  open 
and  throw  the  foot  from  the  stirrup  in  the  event  of 
the  rider  being  thrown  and  the  foot  hung  in  the  stir- 
rups. How  kind  is  God  to  us  !  Oh  that  I  were  more 
grateful  I" 

"  January  ITth.     Yesterday  I  had  the  pleasure  of 
receiving  a  letter  from  my  esposita  four  days  after  it 
was  written.     Doesn't  it  look  as  if  Confederate  mails 
are  better  than  United  States  mails  ?     Don't  you  re- 
member how  long  it  took  for  letters  to  come  from 
Charlotte  to  Lexington  under  the  old  regime?     I  de- 
rive an  additional  pleasure  in  reading  a  letter  from  the 
conviction  that  it  has  not  travelled  on  the  Sabbath. 
How  delightful  will  be   our  heavenly  home,  where 
everything  is  sanctified !  ...  I  am  gratified  at  hear- 
ing that  you  have  commenced  disciplining  the  baby. 
Xow  be  careful,  and  don't  let  her  conquer  you.     She 
must  not  be  permitted  to  have  that  will  of  her  own,  of 
which  you  speak.     How  I  would  love  to  see  the  little 
darling,  whom  I  love  so  tenderly,  though  I  have  never 
seen  her ;  and  if  the  war  were  only  over,  I  tell  you,  I 
would  hurry  down  to  Xorth  Carolina  to  see  my  wife 
and  baby.     I  have  much  work  to  do.     Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Faulkner  is  of  great  service  to  me  in  making 
out  my  reports.     Since  he  is  my  senior  adjutant-gen- 
eral, Pendleton  is  promoted  to  a  majority,  and  is  the 
junior  adjutant-general.     Major  Bier,  my  chief  of  ord- 
nance, has  been  ordered  to  Charleston,  and  Captain 
William  Allan,  of  Winchester,  is  his  successor.  Colonel 
Smeade  is  my  inspector-general,  so  you  must  not  com- 
plain of  my  not  writing  to  you  about  my  staff.     I  re- 


411      LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

gret  to  see  our  Winchester  friends  again  in  the  hands 
of  the  enemy.  I  trust  that,  in  answer  to  prayer,  our 
country  will  soon  be  blessed  with  peace.  If  we  were 
only  that  obedient  people  that  Ave  should  be,  I  would, 
with  increased  confidence,  look  for  a  speedy  termina- 
tion of  hostilities.  Let  us  pray  more  and  live  more  to 
the  sflorv  of  God.  ...  I  am  still  thinkino^  and  think- 
incr  about  tliat  babv,  and  do  Avant  to  see  her.  Can't 
you  send  her  to  me  by  express  ?  There  is  an  express 
line  all  the  Avav  to  Guiney's.  I  am  glad  to  hear  that 
she  sleeps  Avell  at  night,  and  doesn't  disturb  her  moth- 
er. But  it  would  be  better  not  to  call  her  a  cheruJj ;  no 
earthly  being  is  such.  I  am  also  gratified  that  Hetty 
is  doing  well.  Eemember  me  to  her,  and  tell  her  that, 
as  I  didn't  give  her  a  present  last  Christmas,  I  intend 
giving  her  two  next.  .  .  .  Don't  you  accuse  my  baby  of 
not  being  hrave.  I  do  hope  she  will  get  over  her  fear 
of  strangers.  If,  before  strangers  take  her,  you  Avould 
give  them  something  to  please  her,  and  thus  make  her 
have  pleasant  associations  Avith  them,  and  seeing  them 
frequently,  I  trust  she  Avould  lose  her  timidity.  It  is 
gratifying  tliat  she  is  groAving  so  Avell,  and  I  am  thank- 
ful she  is  so  bright  and  knowing.  I  do  aa^sIi  I  could 
see  her  funny  little  Avays,  and  hear  her  '  squeal  out 
Avith  delight'  at  seeing  the  little  chickens.  I  am  some- 
times afraid  that  you  Avill  make  such  an  idol  of  that 
baby  that  God  Avill  take  her  from  us.  Ai^e  yoic  not 
afraid  of  it  ?     Kiss  her  for  her  father. 

"I  haA^e  this  morning  received  two  presents — a 
pair  of  gauntlets  from  near  the  Potomac,  and  another 
beautiful  pair  from  Mrs.  Preston  Trotter,  of  Browns- 
burg.  A  kind  gentleman,  ]\Ir.  Stephens,  of  Kelson 
County,  sent  me  a  barrel  of  select  pippins.'' 


THE  STONEWALL  BRIGADE  BUILDS  A  LOG  CHURCH.    415 

"  January  31st.  Captain  Bushby,  of  the  British 
Army,  called  to  see  me  to-day,  and  presented  me 
with  a  water-proof  oil-cloth  case  in  which  to  sleep  on 
a  wet  night  in  summer  campaigning.  I  can  encase 
myself  in  it,  keep  dry,  and  get  a  good  night's  sleep." 

"  February  3d.  In  answer  to  the  prayers  of  God's 
people,  I  trust  He  will  soon  give  us  peace.  I  haven't 
seen  my  vv^ife  for  nearly  a  year — my  home  in  nearly 
two  years,  and  have  never  seen  our  darling  little 
daughter;  but  it  is  important  that  I,  and  those  at 
headquarters,  should  set  an  example  of  remaining  at 
the  post  of  duty.  Joseph  would  like  very  much  to 
go  home,  but  unless  mother  gets  worse,  he  had  better 
not.  .  .  .  My  old  Stonewall  Brigade  has  built  a  log 
church.  As  yet  I  have  not  been  in  it.  I  am  much 
interested  in  reading  Hunter's  '  Life  of  Moses.'  It  is 
a  delightful  book,  and  I  feel  more  improved  in  read- 
ing it  than  by  an  ordinary  sermon.  I  am  thankful 
to  say  that  my  Sabbaths  are  passed  more  in  medi- 
tation than  formerly.  Time  thus  spent  is  genuine 
enjoyment." 

"February  Tth.  This  has  been  a  beautiful  spring 
day.  I  have  been  thinking  lately  about  gardening. 
If  I  were  at  home,  it  would  be  time  for  me  to  bemn 
to  prepare  the  hot-bed.  Don't  you  remember  what 
interest  we  used  to  take  in  our  hot-bed  ?  If  we  should 
be  privileged  to  return  to  our  old  home,  I  expect  we 
would  find  many  changes.  An  ever-kind  Providence 
is  showering  blessings  down  upon  me.  Yesterday 
Colonel  M.  G.  Harman  and  Mr.  William  J.  Bell,  jun., 
of  Staunton,  presented  me  with  an  excellent  horse. 


416  LIl^E  OF  GEXERAL   THOMAS   J.  JACKSON. 

As  yet  I  liave  not  mounted  him,  but  I  saw  another 
person  ride  him,  and  I  hope  soon  to  have  that  pleasure 
myself.  .  .  .  Just  to  think  our  baby  is  nearly  three 
months  old.  Does  she  notice  and  laugh  much  ?  You 
have  never  told  nie  how  much  she  looks  like  her  mother. 
I  tell  you,  I  want  to  know  how  she  looks.  If  you  could 
hear  me  talking  to  my  esjposa  in  the  mornings  and 
evenings,  it  would  make  you  laugh,  I'm  sure.  It  is 
funny  the  way  I  talk  to  her  when  she  is  hundreds  of 
miles  away.  .  .  .  Jim  has  returned  from  Lexington, 
and  brought  a  letter  from  'Cy'  [a  negro  servant], 
asking  permission  to  take  unto  himself  a  wife,  to 
which  I  intend  to  give  my  consent,  provided  you  or 
his  mother  do  not. object.  ...  I  am  so  much  con- 
cerned about  mother's  health  as  to  induce  me  to  rec- 
ommend a  leave  of  absence  for  Joseph.  I  send  thi^ 
note  by  him,  and  also  send  the  baby  a  silk  handker- 
chief. I  have  thought  that  as  it  is  brightly  colored, 
it  mioiit  attract  her  attention.  Remember,  it  is  her 
first  present  from  her  father,  and  let  me  know  if 
she  notices  it."  [This  handkerchief  has  ever  since 
been  sacredly  preserved  as  a  precious  relic] 

"  February  14th.  Your  delightful  letter  of  six  pages 
received  a  welcome  reception  this  evening.  I  am 
thankful  to  see  that  our  kind  Heavenly  Father  is 
again  restoring  mother  to  health.  I  felt  uneasy  about 
her,  and  thought  that  Josepli  had  better  make  a 
visit  home.  I  have  made  the  restoration  of  mothers 
health  a  subject  of  prayer ;  but  then  Ave  know  that 
our  dear  ones  are  mortal,  and  that  God  does  not 
always  answer  prayer  according  to  our  erring  feel- 
incrs.     I  think  that  if,  when  we  see  ourselves  in  a 


LETTER  TO   HIS   WIFE.  417 

glass,  we  should  consider  that  all  of  us  that  is  visible 
must  turn  to  corruption  and  dust,  we  would  learn 
more  justly  to  appreciate  the  relative  importance  of 
the  body  that  perishes  and  the  soul  that  is  immortal. 
.  .  .  Your  accounts  of  baby  are  very  gratifying,  and 
intensify  my  desire  to  see  her.  If  peace  is  not  con- 
cluded before  next  winter,  I  do  hope  you  can  bring 
her  and  spend  the  winter  with  me.  This  \v^ould  be 
very  delightful.  If  we  are  spared,  I  trust  an  ever- 
kind  Providence  will  enable  us  to  be  together  all 
winter.  I  am  glad  little  Juha  was  pleased  with  her 
])resent,  and  wish  I  could  have  seen  her  laugh.  .  .  . 
You  say  you  don't  see  any  use  of  my  not  taking  a 
furlough.  I  think  that  the  army  would  be  much  more 
efficient  if  all  belonging  to  it  were  present.  ...  I  do 
trust  and  pray  that  our  people  will  religiously  ob- 
serve the  2Tth  of  next  month  as  a  day  of  humiliation, 
prayer,  and  fasting,  as  our  President  has  designated 
in  his  proclamation.  To-morrow  is  the  Sabbath.  My 
Sabbaths  are  looked  forward  to  with  pleasure.  I 
don't  know  that  I  ever  enjoyed  Sabbaths  as  I  do  this 
winter.  ...  I  don't  think  I  have  written  you  about 
recent  presents.  About  a  week  since,  I  received  from 
Mr.  W.  F.  De  la  Rue,  of  London,  a  superb  English 
saddle,  bridle,  holsters,  saddle-cover,  blankets,  whip, 
spurs,  etc. — the  most  complete  riding  equipage  that  I 
have  seen  for  many  a  day.  Its  completeness  is  re- 
markable. This  evening  I  received  from  Mr.  John 
Johnson,  of  London,  a  box  containing  two  flannel 
shirts,  two  pairs  of  long  woollen  stockings  extending 
above  the  knees,  a  buckskin  shirt,  a  pair  of  boots,  a 
pair  of  leather  leggings  extending  about  eight  inches 
above  the  knees,  two  pairs  of  excellent  fitting  leather 
27 


418      LIFE  OF  GEXERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

gloves,  and  a  very  superior  variegated  colored  blanket. 
Our  ever-kind  Heavenly  Father  gives  me  friends 
amonf  strangers.  He  is  the  source  of  every  blessing, 
and  I  desire  to  be  more  grateful  to  Ilim.'' 

"  March  7th.  I  have  just  Unished  my  report  of  the 
battle  of  McDowell.  .  .  .  There  is  a  good  deal  of  re- 
ligious interest  in  the  army.  Eev.  Mr.  Lacy  is  with 
me  no\v,  and  I  expect  will  continue  with  the  army 
during  the  war.  Eev.  William  J.  Hoge  is  here,  and 
has  preached  severaL  sermons.  Rev.  Mr.  Hopkins  is 
chaplain  of  the  Second  Regiment  of  Virginia  A^olun- 
teers.  If  you  were  here  you  would  find  a  number 
of  friends." 

'*  March  14th.  The  time  has  about  come  for  cam- 
paigning, and  I  hope  early  next  week  to  leave  my 
room,  and  go  into  a  tent  near  Hamilton's  Crossing, 
which  is  on  the  railroad,  about  five  miles  from  Fred- 
ericksburg. It  is  rather  a  relief  to  get  where  there 
will  be  less  comfort  than  in  a  room,  as  I  hope  thereby 
persons  will  be  prevented  from  encroaching  so  much 
upon  my  time.  I  am  greatly  behind  in  my  reports, 
and  am  very  desirous  to  get  through  with  them  before 
another  campaign  commences.  Do  you  remember 
when  my  little  wife  used  to  come  up  to  my  head- 
([uarters  in  Winchester  and  talk  with  her  esposof 
I  would  love  to  see  her  sunny  face  peering  into  my 
room  again.  .  .  .  On  next  Monday  there  is  to  be  a 
meeting  of  the  chaplains  of  my  corps,  and  I  pray 
that  good  may  result.  ...  I  \\w\  now  in  cam]\  but  I 
do  not  know  of  any  house  near  l)y  where  you  could 
be  accommodated,  should  you  come  ;  and,  moreover,  I 


HIS   FAVORITE   HYMNS.  419 

might  not  be  here  when  j^ou  would  arrive,  as  the 
season  for  campaigning  has  come.  Before  this  time 
last  year,  the  campaign  liad  begun,  and,  so  far  as  we 
can  see,  it  ma\^  begin  again  at  any  time.  The  move- 
ments of  the  enemy  must  influence  ours,  and  we  can't 
say  where  we  shall  be  a  week  hence.'^ 

"  April  10th.  I  trust  that  God  is  going  to  bless  us 
with  great  success,  and  in  such  a  manner  as  to  show 
that  it  is  all  His  gift ;  and  I  trust  and  pray  that  it 
will  lead  our  country  to  acknowledge  Him,  and  to 
live  in  accordance  with  His  will  as  revealed  in  the 
Bible.  There  appears  to  be  an  increased  religious 
interest  among  our  troops  here.  Our  chaplains  have 
weekly  meetings  on  Tuesdays;  and  the  one  of  this 
week  was  more  charming  than  the  preceding  one." 

After  removing  his  headquarters  to  Hamilton  Cross- 
ing, General  Jackson  established  an  altar  of  dail}' 
morning  prayer  in  his  military  family.  He  Avas  too 
liberal  and  unobtrusive  in  his  own  religion  to  exact 
compulsory  attendance  on  the  part  of  his  staff ;  but 
their  regard  for  him  prompted  them  to  gratify  his 
wishes,  and  he  always  greeted  their  presence  Avith  a 
face  of  beaming  commendation.  He  appointed  his 
chaplain  to  officiate  at  these  services ;  but  if  he  was 
absent,  the  general  took  his  place  himself,  and  with 
the  greatest  fervor  and  humility  offered  up  his  tribute 
of  praise  and  supplication.  Meetings  for  praA^er  were 
held  at  his  quarters  twice  a  week,  on  Sunday  and 
Wednesday  evenings,  and  on  Sunday  afternoons  he 
loved  to  engage  the  musical  members  of  his  staff  in 
singing  sacred  songs,  to  which  he  listened  with  genu- 


420      LIFE  OF  GEXERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

ine  delight.     He  rarely  let  them  stop  without  calling 
for  the  liymn  beginning 

"  How  happy  are  they 
Who  the  Saviour  obey  !'' 

Other  favorite  hymns  with  him  were : 

"  Come,  humble  sinner,  in  whose  breast 
A  thousand  thoughts  revolve." 

"'Tis  my  happiness  below, 
Not  to  live  without  the  cross." 

"When  gathering  clouds  around  I  view, 
And  days  are  dark  and  friends  are  few." 

"Glorious  things  of  thee  are  spoken, 
Zion,  city  of  our  God." 

[Sung  to  the  tune  of  Harwell.] 


And, 


CHAPTER   XXII. 

THE    LAST  HAPPY  DAYS.— CHANCELLORSYILLE— 1863. 

As  the  spring  advanced,  and  the  season  for  cam- 
paigning dre^Y  nearer,  General  Jackson  grew  more 
and  more  anxious  to  have  a  visit  from  his  wife  and 
child.  His  solicitous  consideration  for  the  health  and 
safety  of  the  little  one  had  led  him  to  advise  their  not 
travelling  until  the  winter  was  over ;  and  now  he 
showed  great  eagerness  to  have  a  visit  before  the  cam- 
paign should  open.     On  the  18th  of  April  he  wrote : 

...  "I  am  beginning  to  look  for  my  darling  and 
my  bab}^  I  shouldn't  be  surprised  to  hear  at  any 
time  that  they  were  coming,  and  I  tell  a^ou  there  would 
be  one  dehghted  man.  Last  night  I  dreamed  that  my 
little  wife  and  I  were  on  opposite  sides  of  a  room,  in 
the  centre  of  which  was  a  table,  and  the  little  baby 
started  from  her  mother,  making  her  way  along  under 
the  table,  and  finally  reached  her  father.  And  what 
do  you  think  she  did  when  she  arrived  at  her  destina- 
tion? She  just  climbed  up  on  her  father  and  kissed 
him !  And  don't  you  think  he  was  a  happy  man  ?  But 
when  he  awoke  he  found  it  all  a  delusion.  I  am  glad 
to  hear  that  she  enjoys  out-doors,  and  grows,  and  coos, 
and  laughs.  How  I  would  love  to  see  her  sweet  ways ! 
That  her  little  chubby  hands  have  lost  their  resem- 
blance to  mine  is  not  regretted  by  me.  .  .  .  Should  I 


4r'2'2  I^IFE    OF   GEXERAL    THOMAS   J.   JACKSON. 

write  to  you  to  liave  any  more  pantaloons  made  for 
me,  please  do  not  have  mucli  gold  braid  al)out  them. 
I  became  so  ashamed  of  the  broad  gilt  band  tliat  was 
on  the  cap  you  sent  as  to  induce  me  to  take  it  off.  I 
like  simplicity." 

"  Saturday.  Yesterday  I  received  youi*  letter,  but 
you  did  not  say  a  word  about  coming  to  see  your  es- 
jwso.  I  do  hope  that  ere  this  you  liave  received  mine, 
saying  you  could  come,  and  that  vou  at  once  got  an 
escort  and  started.  There  is  no  time  for  hesitation  if 
you  have  not  started.  There  is  increasing  probability 
that  I  may  be  elsewhere  as  the  season  advances.  But 
don't  come  unless  you  get  a  good  escort.  I  am  not 
certain  that  I  can  get  accommodations  for  you  :  but  I 
don't  think  there  will  be  any  difficulty  about  it,  as  I 
hope  some  kind  neighbor  would  try  to  make  us  com- 
fortable for  the  short  time  that  you  may  remain.  I 
think  that  we  might  get  in  at  Mr.  Yerby's,  which  is 
less  than  a  mile  from  my  headquarters." 

Little  Julia  wa's  nearly  five  months  old  now,  and 
was  plump,  rosy,  and  good,  and  with  her  nurse,  Hetty, 
we  set  out  upon  this  visit,  so  full  of  interest  and  antici- 
pated joys.  We  made  the  journey  safely,  stopping  in 
Richmond  to  spend  Sunday,  and  arrived  at"  Guiney's 
Station  at  noon  on  Monday,  the  20th  of  April.  Hett}^ 
and  I  were  all  anxiety  to  have  our  baby  present  her 
best  ajipearance  for  her  father's  first  sight  of  her,  and 
she  could  not  have  better  realized  our  wishes.  She 
awoke  from  a  long,  refreshing  sleep  just  before  the 
train  stopped,  and  never  looked  more  bright  and  charm- 
inir.     When  he  entered  the  coach  to  receive  us,  his 


THE    FIRST   SIGHT  OF   HIS   CHILD.  423 

rubber  overcoat  was  dripping  from  the  rain  ^vhicll 
was  falling,  but  liis  face  was  all  sunshine  and  glad- 
ness ;  and,  after  greeting  his  wife,  it  was  a  picture, 
indeed,  to  see  his  look  of  perfect  delight  and  admira- 
tion as  his  eyes  fell  upon  that  bal\y  !  She  Avas  at  the 
lovely,  smiling  age ;  and  catching  his  eager  look  of  su- 
preme interest  in  her,  she  beamed  her  brightest  and 
sweetest  smiles  upon  him  in  return,  so  it  seemed  to  be 
a  mutual  fascination.  He  was  afraid  to  take  her  in 
his  arms,  with  his  wet  overcoat ;  but  as  we  drove  in 
a  carriage  to  Mr.  Yerbv's,  his  face  reflected  all  the 
happiness  and  delight  that  were  in  his  heart,  and  he 
expressed  much  surprise  and  gratification  at  her  size 
and  beauty.  Upon  our  arrival  at  the  house  he  speed- 
ily divested  himself  of  his  overcoat,  and,  taking  his 
baby  in  his  arms,  he  caressed  her  with  the  tenderest 
affection,  and  held  her  long  and  lovingly.  During 
the  whole  of  this  short  visit,  when  he  was  with  us,  he 
rarely  had  her  out  of  his  arms,  walking  her,  and  amus- 
ing"  her  in  every  way  that  he  could  think  of — some- 
times holding  her  up  before  a  mirror  and  saying,  ad- 
miringly, "  JS'ow,  Miss  Jackson,  look  at  yourself !" 
Then  he  would  turn  to  an  old  lady  of  the  family  and 
say :  "  Isn't  she  a  little  gem  T^  He  was  frequently 
told  that  she  resembled  him,  but  he  would  say :  "  ISTo, 
she  is  too  pretty  to  look  like  me."  When  she  slept  in 
the  day,  he  would  often  kneel  over  her  cradle,  and 
gaze  upon  her  little  face  with  the  most  rapt  admira- 
tion, and  he  said  he  felt  almost  as  if  she  were  an  angel, 
in  her  innocence  and  purity.  I  have  often  wished 
that  the  picture  which  was  presented  to  me  of  that 
father  kneeling  over  the  cradle  of  that  lovely  infant 
could  have  been  put  upon  canvas.     And  yet  with  all 


424     LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

his  fondness  and  devotion  to  the  httle  lady,  he  had  no 
idea  of  spoiling  her,  as  will  be  seen  by  his  undertaking 
to  teach  her  a  lesson  in  self-control  before  she  was  five 
months  old  I  One  day  she  began  to  cry  to  be  taken 
from  the  bed  on  which  she  was  lying,  and  as  soon  as 
her  wish  was  gratified,  she  ceased  to  cry.  lie  laid 
her  back  upon  tlie  bed,  and  the  cr3'ing  was  renewed 
with  increased  violence.  Of  course,  the  mother-heart 
wished  to  stop  this  by  taking  her  up  again,  but  he  ex- 
claimed :  ''  This  will  never  do !"  and  commanded  "  all 
hands  off"  until  that  little  will  of  her  own  should 
be  conquered.  So  there  she  lay,  kicking  and  scream- 
ing, while  he  stood  over  her  with  as  much  coolness 
and  determination  as  if  he  were  directing  a  battle;  and 
he  was  true  to  the  name  of  Stonewall,  even  in  disci- 
plining a  baby !  When  she  stopped  crying  he  would 
take  her  up,  and  if  she  began  to  cry  again  he  would 
lay  her  down  again,  and  this  he  kept  up  until  finall}^ 
she  was  completely  conquered,  and  became  perfectly 
quiet  in  his  hands. 

On  the  23d  of  April  (the  day  she  was  five  months 
old)  General  Jackson  had  little  Julia  baptized.  He 
brought  his  chaplain,  the  Eev.  Mr.  Lacy,  to  Mr.  Yer- 
by's,  in  whose  parlor  the  sacred  rite  was  performed, 
in  tlie  presence  of  the  family,  and  a  number  of  the 
staff-officers.  The  child  behaved  beautifully,  and  was 
the  object  of  great  interest  to  her  father's  friends  and 
soldiers.  His  aide,  Mr.  Smith,  tells  how  he  came  to 
be  present.  He  says :  "  I  recall  the  visit  to  Mr.  Yer- 
by's  to  see  the  baptism  of  little  Julia.  For  some 
reason,  Mr.  Lacy  did  not  wish  me  to  go,  and  said  I 
shouldn't  go.  Provoked  at  tliis.  I  went  to  the  gen- 
eral, who  said,  '  Certainly,  Mr.  Smith,  you  can  go  ; 


THE   LAST   SOLEMN   SERVICE.  425 

ask  the  others  to  go  with  you,'  and  I  turned  out  the 
whole  party,  making  quite  a  cavalcade  to  ride  to  Mr. 
Yerby's.  I  remember  the  general's  impatience  at  some 
little  delay,  and  the  decided  way  with  which  he  went 
out  and  brought  in  the  child  in  his  arms." 

The  next  Sabbath  was  a  most  memorable  one  to 
me,  being  the  last  upon  which  I  was  privileged  to  at- 
tend divine  service  with  my  husband  on  earth,  and  to 
worship  in  camp  with  such  a  company  of  soldiers  as 
I  had  never  seen  together  in  a  religious  congregation. 
My  husband  took  me  in  an  ambulance  to  his  head- 
quarters, where  the  services  were  held,  and  on  the 
way  were  seen  streams  of  officers  and  soldiers,  some 
riding,  some  walking,  all  wending  their  way  to  the 
place  of  worship.  Arrived  there,  we  found  Mr.  Lacy 
in  a  tent,  in  which  we  were  seated,  together  with  Gen- 
eral Lee  and  other  distinguished  officers.  I  remember 
how  reverent  and  impressive  was  General  Lee's  bear- 
ing, and  how  handsome  he  looked,  with  his  splendid 
figure  and  faultless  military  attire.  In  front  of  the 
tent,  under  the  canopy  of  heaven,  were  spread  out  in 
dense  masses  the  soldiers,  sitting  upon  benches  or 
standing.  The  preaching  was  earnest  and  edifying, 
the  singing  one  grand  volume  of  song,  and  the  atten- 
tion and  good  behavior  of  the  assembly  remarkable. 
That  Sabbath  afternoon  my  husband  spent  entirely 
with  me,  and  his  conversation  was  more  spiritual  than 
I  had  ever  observed  before.  He  seemed  to  be  giving 
utterance  to  those  religious  meditations  in  which  he 
so  much  delighted.  He  never  appeared  to  be  in  better 
health  than  at  this  time,  and  I  never  saw  him  look  so 
handsome  and  noble.  We  had  ,a  large,  comfortable 
room  at  Mr.  Yerby's,  which  was  hospitably  furnished 


426  LIFE   OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

with  three  beds.  It  seems  that  General  Lee  had  been 
an  occupant  of  this  i-ooni  before  us,  for  when  he  called 
on  me  he  facetiously  alluded  to  our  capacious  accom- 
modations, and  said  he  had  written  to  his  wife  and 
daughters  that  if  they  would  come  to  see  him,  he  could 
entertain  them  all  in  this  room  !  This  was  the  first 
time  I  met  him,  and  when  the  announcement  was 
made  that  "  General  Lee  and  his  staff  had  called  to  see 
Mrs.  Jackson,"  I  was  somewhat  awe-struck  at  tlie  idea 
of  meeting  the  commander-in-chief,  with  a  retinue  of 
officers,  and  descended  to  the  parlor  with  considerable 
trepidation ;  but  I  was  met  by  a  face  so  kind  and  fa- 
therly/, and  a  greeting  so  cordial,  that  I  was  at  once 
reassured  and  put  at  ease.  The  formidable  ^' staff" 
consisted  of  only  two  or  three  nice-looking,  courteous 
gentlemen,  and  the  call  was  greatly  enjoyed. 

General  Lee  was  always  charming  in  the  society  of 
ladies,  and  often  indulged  in  a  playful  way  of  teasing 
them  that  was  quite  amusing.  He  claimed  the  privi- 
lege of  kissing  all  the  pretty  young  girls,  which  was 
regarded  by  them  as  a  special  honor.  A  young  staff- 
officer  relates  that  on  the  occasion  of  a  general  review^ 
many  ladies  turned  out  in  carriages  to  witness  the  im- 
posing spectacle.  He  heard  one  young  lady  call  out 
to  another  from  her  carriage  :  '•  General  Lee  kissed  me 
tvnce  r  The  exultant  reply  came  back  from  another 
carriage :  "  General  Lee  kissed  me  four  times  /" 

General  Jackson  did  not  permit  the  presence  of  his 
familv  to  interfere  in  any  way  with  his  military  du- 
ties. The  greater  part  of  each  day  he  spent  at  his 
headquarters,  but  returned  as  early  as  he  could  get  off 
from  his  labors,  and  devoted  all  of  his  leisure  time  to 
his  visitors — little  Julia  sharinir  his  chief  attention  and 


THE  PORTRAIT  THAT  THE  SOLDIERS  LOVE.    497 

care.  His  devotion  to  his  ciiild  was  remarked  upon 
by  all  Avbo  beheld  the  happy  pair  together,  for  she 
soon  learned  to  delight  in  his  caresses  as  much  as  he 
loved  to  play  with  her.  An  officer's  wife  who  saw 
him  often  during  this  time  wrote  to  a  friend  in  Eich- 
mond  that  "  tlie  general  spent  all  his  leisure  time  in 
playing  with  the  baby." 

One  morning  he  rode  over  from  headquarters  upon 
his  handsome  bay  horse,  "  Superior,"  wishing  to  show 
me  his  fine  present ;  and  after  bringing  him  up  to  the 
steps  of  the  house  and  showing  him  off,  he  remounted 
him,  and  galloped  away  at  such  a  John  Gilpin  speed 
that  his  cap  was  soon  borne  off  by  the  velocity ;  but 
he  did  not  stop  to  pick  it  up,  leaving  this  to  his  order- 
ly behind  him,  who  found  great  difficulty  in  keeping 
even  in  sight  of  him.  As  far  as  he  could  be  seen,  he 
was  flying  like  the  wind — the  impersonation  of  fear- 
lessness and  manly  vigor. 

It  was  during  these  last  happ}^  days  that  he  sat  for 
the  last  picture  that  was  taken  of  him — the  three-quar- 
ters view  of  his  face  and  head — the  favorite  picture 
with  his  old  soldiers,  as  it  is  the  most  soldierly-look- 
ing ;  but,  to  my  mind,  not  so  pleasing  as  the  full-face 
view  which  was  taken  in  the  spring  of  1862,  at  Win- 
chester, and  which  has  more  of  the  beaming  sunlight 
of  his  home-looh.  The  last  picture  was  taken  by  an 
artist  who  came  to  Mr.  Yerby's  and  asked  permission 
to  photograph  him,  which  he  at  first  declined ;  but  as 
he  never  presented  a  finer  appearance  in  health  and 
dress  (wearing  the  handsome  suit  given  him  by  Gen- 
eral Stuart),  I  persuaded  him  to  sit  for  his  picture. 
After  arranging  his  hair  myself,  which  was  unusually 
long  for  him,  and  curled  in  large  ringlets,  he  sat  in 


428  LIFE   OF   GEXERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

the  hall  of  the  house,  where  a  strong  wind  blew  in  his 
face,  causing  hira  to  frown,  and  giving  a  sternness  to 
his  countenance  that  was  not  natural ;  but  in  spite  of 
this,  some  tine  copies  have  been  produced  from  the 
original.  The  very  best  is  Elder's  grand  portrait — 
painted  for  the  late  Mr.  W.  W.  Corcoran,  of  Wash- 
incrton.  Durino:  a  visit  of  ray  dauo^hter  and  myself  to 
Mr.  Corcoran,  a  few  years  since,  he  asked  us  to  walk 
with  him  into  his  salon,  saying  he  had  there  some- 
thing to  show  us.  Without  another  word,  he  led  us 
up  in  front  of  this  portrait,  and  as  the  child  stood 
transfixed  before  the  splendid  representation  of  the 
father,  whose  memory  she  so  revered,  the  dear  old 
man  stepped  forward,  and,  lifting  up  the  pathetic  young 
face,  tenderly  kissed  her.  This  portrait,  together  with 
a  companion  picture  of  General  Lee,  was  given  by 
Mr.  Corcoran  to  the  Art  Gallery  in  Washington,  which 
was  founded  by  him  and  bears  his  honored  name. 

Our  military  leaders  had  diligently  employed  the 
winter  months  in  preparing  their  troops  for  the  great- 
est efficiency  in  the  approaching  campaign.  When 
the  spring  opened,  General  Lee  found  himself  at  the 
head  of  an  army  unsurpassed  in  discipline  and  all  the 
hardy  virtues  of  the  soldier,  strengthened  by  the  addi- 
tions of  the  winter,  reinvigorated  by  the  compactness 
and  order  which  had  been  given  to  its  organization, 
Avith  an  enthusiasm  acquired  by  a  long  series  of  vic- 
tories, and  ready  to  add  to  that  series  a  triumph  more 
remarkable  and  illustrious  than  any  of  its  predeces- 
sors. .  .  .  General  Jackson's  corps  grew  in  three  months 
from  twenty -five  to  thirty -three  thousand  muskets. 
.  .  .  The  splendid  morale  of  this  army  did  not  need 
improvement,  but  it  enabled  it  to  bear,  without  in- 


HOOKER'S  ARilY   CROSSING   THE   RIVER.  429 

jur}^,  the  privations  and  hardships  of  the  winter.  In- 
sufficient clothing  and  scanty  rations  produced  no 
effect  upon  it." 

Their  leader  manifested  less  reserve  than  formerly 
in  expressing  his  opinion  of  the  general  principles 
which  should  govern  the  Confederate  side  in  the 
continuance  of  the  war.  AYith  great  decision  and 
emphasis  he  said  :  "  We  must  make  this  campaign  an 
exceedingly  active  one.  Only  thus  can  a  weaker 
country  cope  Avith  a  stronger  ;  it  must  make  up  in 
activity  what  it  lacks  in  strength.  A  defensive  cam- 
paign can  only  be  made  successful  by  taking  the  ag- 
gressive at  the  proper  time.  N^apoleon  never  wait- 
ed for  his  adversary  to  become  fully  prepared,  but 
struck  him  the  first  blow." 

But  as  the  campaign  drew  on  apace,  my  delightful 
visit  was  destined  to  come  to  an  end.  My  husband 
had  loved  to  dwell  with  devout  thankfulness  upon 
the  happy  winter  we  had  spent  together  in  Winches- 
ter ;  but  this  last  visit  exceeded  that  in  happiness,  for 
it  had  the  additional  charm  and  the  attraction  of  the 
lovely  child  that  God  had  given  us,  and  this  greatly 
intensified  his  delight  and  enjoyment. 

My  visit  had  lasted  only  nine  days,  when  early  on 
the  morning  of  the  29th  of  April  we  were  aroused 
by  a  messenger  at  our  door  saying,  "  General  Early's 
adjutant  wishes  to  see  General  Jackson."  As  he 
arose,  he  said,  "  That  looks  as  if  Hooker  were  cross- 
ing." He  hurried  down-stairs,  and,  soon  returning, 
told  me  that  his  surmise  was  correct — Hooker  was 
crossing  the  river,  and  that  he  must  gQ  immediately 
to  the  scene  of  action.  From  the  indications  he 
thought  a  battle  was  imminent,  and  under  the  cir- 


430     LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

cumstances  he  was  unwilling  for  us  to  remain  in  so 
exposed  a  situation  as  Mr.  Yerby's.  He  therefore 
directed  me  to  prepare  to  start  for  Richmond  at  a 
moment's  notice,  promising  to  return  himself  to  see 
us  off  if  possible,  and  if  not,  he  would  send  my  broth- 
er Joseph.  After  a  tender  and  hasty  good-by,  he 
hurried  off  without  breakfast.  Scarcely  had  he  gone, 
when  the  roar  of  cannons  began — volley  after  volley- 
following  in  quick  succession — the  house  shaking  and 
windows  rattlino^  from  the  reverberations,  throwin^: 
the  family  into  great  panic,  and  causing  the  wildest 
excitement  among  all  the  occupants  of  the  place.  My 
hasty  preparations  for  leaving  were  hardly  completed 
when  Mr.  Lacy,  the  chaplain,  came  with  an  ambu- 
lance, saying  he  had  been  sent  by  General  Jackson  to 
convey  his  family  to  the  railroad  station  as  speedily 
as  possible,  in  order  to  catch  the  morning  train  to 
Richmond.  My  brother  Joseph,  seeing  General  Jack- 
son's need  of  his  services,  had  requested  that  Mr. 
Lacy  should  be  sent  in  his  stead  as  my  escort.  He 
brought  a  cheerful  note  from  my  husband,  explaining 
why  he  could  not  leave  his  post,  and  invoking  God's 
care  and  blessing  upon  us  in  our  sudden  departure, 
and  especially  was  he  tender  and  loving  in  his  men- 
tion of  the  baby. 

A  ra])id  and  continuous  rattle  of  musketry  showed 
that  the  battle  was  now  under  way,  and  before  we 
left  Mr.  Yerby's  yard  we  saw  several  wounded  sol- 
diers brought  in  and  placed  in  the  out-houses,  which 
the  surgeons  were  arranging  as  temporary  hospitals. 
This  was  my  nearest  and  only  glimpse  of  the  actual 
horrors  of  the  battle-field,  and  the  reader  can  imagine 
how  sad  and  harrowing  \vas  my  chive  to  the  station 


HIS  WIFE   RETURNS  TO   RICHMOND.  43 1 

on  that  terrible  morning !  The  distance  was  several 
miles,  and  as  we  journeyed  along  over  a  newly  cut 
road,  filled  with  stumps  and  roots,  we  could  hear  the 
sounds  of  battle,  and  my  heart  was  heavy  Avith  fore- 
boding and  dread.  We  were  in  good  time  for  the 
train,  and  but  few  passengers  were  aboard — only  two 
that  made  any  impression  upon  me,  and  these  were  a 
pretty,  young  Creole  mother  and  a  little  boy  from 
Kew  Orleans,  who,  like  myself,  had  been  paying  a 
visit  to  a  soldier  husband  and  father,  and  were  now  flee- 
ing for  safety.  In  a  few  hours  we  Avere  in  Eichmond, 
among  kind  friends,  for  all  Southern  hearts  w^ere 
bound  by  a  strong  tie  in  the  common  cause  for  which 
so  many  brave  hearts  were  battling. 

But  we  must  now  return  to  General  Jackson. 
Hastening  to  his  command,  his  first  order  was  to  de- 
spatch one  of  his  aides  to  inform  General  Lee  of  the 
movements  of  the  enemy.  The  commander-in-chief 
was  found  sitting  in  his  tent,  and  replied  with  his  ac- 
customed pleasantry  to  the  message,  saying  :  "  Well, 
I  heard  firing,  and  I  was  beginning  to  think  it  was 
time  some  of  you  lazy  young  fellows  w^ere  coming  to 
tell  me  what  it  was  all  about.  Say  to  General  Jack- 
son that  he  knows  just  as  well  what  to  do  with  the 
enemy  as  I  do." 

Thus  left  to  his  own  responsibility,  Jackson  had 
his  corps  under  arms  as  speedily  as  possible,  but  soon 
ascertained  from  the  cavalry  pickets  of  General  Stuart 
that  the  crossing  of  the  enemy  below  Fredericksburg, 
which  was  now  engaging  his  attention,  was  only  a 
feint  to  cover  the  movements  of  still  larger  forces, 
which  were  effecting  passages  higher  up  the  Rappa- 
hannock,  and   some   miles   west   of   Fredericksburg. 


432      LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

These  forces  marched  down  towards  Chancellorsville, 
fifteen  miles  west  of  Fredericksburg,  where  General 
Hooker  was  himself  in  command,  and  was  massing 
his  vast  army. 

On  the  opening  of  this  campaign,  when  General 
Jackson  broke  up  his  quarters,  it  was  observed  that 
a  wondrous  change  came  over  him.  From  the  quiet, 
patient,  but  arduous  laborer  over  his  daily  tasks,  he 
seemed  transformed  into  a  thunder-bolt  of  war.  So 
instinct  with  animation,  energy,  and  indomitable  will 
did  he  appear  that  even  his  figure  assumed  more 
erectness,  his  step  a  quicker  firmness,  and  his  whole 
bearing  realized  the  ideal  of  a  soldier,  as  one  inspired 
by  the  consciousness  of  power.  His  mind  was  clear 
and  his  action  prompt :  nothing  did  he  overlook  or 
neglect  which  could  add  to  the  efficiency  of  his  corps. 

Before  orderii>g  his  tents  to  be  struck,  his  last  act 
was  to  dismount  from  his  horse  and  seek  the  ])rivacy 
of  his  own  tent.  His  servant  Jim,  to  whom  he  had 
thrown  the  reins,  raised  his  hand  to  the  bustling  crowd 
around,  as  a  warning  gesture,  and  in  a  loud  whisper 
said  :  "  Hush !  .  .  .  The  general  is  praying  I''  Silence 
immediately  fell  upon  the  camp,  and  was  maintained 
until  the  curtain  was  withdrawn  and  the  Christian 
warrior  came  forth  from  his  closet,  where  he  had  drunk 
of  the  inspiration  that  comes  only  from  above,  which 
makes  a  man  "  strong  in  the  Lord,  and  in  the  power 
of  His  might." 

Proceeding  to  the  field.  General  Jackson  managed, 
with  his  usual  skill,  to  escape  the  notice  of  the  enemy, 
and  put  his  column  in  motion  at  three  o'clock  on  the 
morning  of  the  30th,  in  obedience  to  General  Lee's 
order  to  go  to  the  support  of  two  divisions  which  had 


POSITION   OF  THE   FEDERAL   ARMY.  433 

already  been  sent  to  arrest  the  advance  of  the  enemy, 
which  he  accomphshed  by  threatening  their  flank,  upon 
which  they  fell  back  to  Chancellorsville,  where,  accord- 
ing to  the  report  of  General  Lee,  they  "  had  assumed 
a  position  of  great  natural  strength,  surrounded  on 
all  sides  by  a  dense  forest,  filled  with  a  tangled  under- 
growth, in  the  midst  of  which  breastworks  of  logs  had 
been  constructed,, with  trees  felled  in  front,  so  as  to 
form  an  almost  impenetrable  abatis.  Their  artillery 
swept  the  few  narrow  roads  by  which  the  position 
could  be  approached  from  the  front,  and  commanded 
the  adjacent  woods." 

To  attack  this  stronghold  would  cost  a  fruitless 
waste  of  life,  and  the  Confederates  attempted  nothing 
that  day  beyond  some  skirmishing  along  the  lines. 
That  night,  the  1st  of  May,  Generals  Lee  and  Jackson 
bivouacked  upon  a  knoll  covered  with  pine-trees,  the 
fallen  leaves  aifording  them  the  only  means  of  repose ; 
but  little  did  they  think  of  sleep,  and  long  and  earnest 
were  their  consultations,  for  the  situation  of  affairs 
was  of  the  gravest  and  most  serious  aspect. 

Longstreet,  with  a  part  of  his  corps,  was  absent ; 
Early  had  been  left  at  Fredericksburg  to  conceal  Jack- 
son's departure,  and  to  dispute  the  heights  of  that 
place  with  Sedgwick ;  and  Lee's  army,  thus  diminished, 
was  left  with  only  forty-three  thousand  men  to  battle 
against  Hooker  with  sixty  thousand.  The  Federal 
cavalry,  in  large  force,  had  also  broken  through  the 
Confederate  lines,  and  was  making  a  raid  southward, 
with  the  object  of  cutting  off  General  Lee's  commu- 
nications with  Eichmond.  General  Stuart  now  joined 
them,  and  reported  that,  while  Hooker's  situation  was 
seemingly  impregnable,  with  his  whole  force  massed 
28 


434      LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

around  Chancellors ville.  vet  his  encampments  were 
open  upon  the  west  and  nortliwest,  and  the  greater 
part  of  his  cavalry  were  absent  on  the  southern  raid. 
Long  and  anxiously  did  the  two  Confederate  leaders 
consult  on  that  memorable  night,  and  they  both  agreed 
that  Hooker  must  be  attacked  at  once,  or  all  would 
be  lost.  Finally  they  laid  themselves  down  upon  the 
pine  leaves  to  take  a  few  hours  of  mjach-needed  repose. 
Jackson's  mind  seemed  to  have  been  upon  everything 
more  than  himself,  and  he  had  neglected  to  provide 
a  covering  or  wrap  of  any  kind.  lie  was  urged  by 
young  Pendleton  of  his  staff  to  accept  his  overcoat, 
but  was  unwilling  to  deprive  him  of  it,  and  declined. 
The  thoughtful  young  man  then  detached  the  large 
cape  of  the  garment  and  spread  it  over  his  general ; 
but  as  soon  as  Pendleton  fell  asleep,  Jackson  rose 
and  carefully  placed  the  cape  over  him,  preferring  to 
endure  the  cold  himself  to  depriving  a  friend  of  his 
comfort.  The  next  morning  he  awoke  with  a  cold, 
but  he  did  not  speak  of  it.  In  the  gray  light  of  dawn 
his  chaplain  found  him  sitting  on  a  cracker-box,  and 
shivering  over  a  little  fire.  He  invited  ]\Ir.  Lacy  to 
take  a  seat  by  him,  and  asked  him  to  give  him  all  the 
information  he  could  about  the  by-roads  of  that  region 
— the  minister  being  acquainted  with  the  country,  as 
he  once  had  a  charge  in  that  vicinity.  He  took  a  pen- 
cil and  an  outline  map  out  of  his  pocket,  and  requested 
Mr.  Lacy  to  mark  down  all  the  roads  for  him.  He  also 
sent  his  topographical  engineer,  ^lajor  Jed.  Ilotchkiss, 
now  of  Staunton,  Virginia,  to  inspect  the  country,  and 
procured  the  services  of  a  guide  from  the  neighborhood 
to  find  out  some  avenue  by  which  he  might  pass  s^viftly 
and  unobserved  around  the  flank  of  Hooker's  army. 


THE   FLANK   MOVEMENT.  435 

The  needed  information  was  soon  obtained.  Seat- 
ed upon  two  cracker-boxes,  the  debris  of  an  issue 
of  Federal  rations  the  day  before,  the  Confederate 
leaders  held  their  consultation.  With  a  map  before 
him,  Jackson  suggested  making  a  long  circuit,  sweep- 
ing clear  round  Hooker's  right,  and  so  making  the 
attack  on  his  rear.  Lee  inquired  with  what  force  he 
would  do  this  ?  Jackson  replied,  "  With  my  whole 
corps  present."  Lee  then  asked  what  would  be  left 
to  him  with  which  to  resist  an  advance  of  the  enemy 
towards  Fredericksburg?  ''  The  divisions  of  Anderson 
and  McLaws,"  said  Jackson.  For  a  moment  Lee  re- 
flected on  the  audacity  of  this  plan  in  the  face  of 
Hooker's  superior  numbers.  To  divide  his  army  into 
two  parts  and  place  the  whole  Federal  force  between 
them  was  extremely  hazardous.  But  it  was  impos- 
sible to  attack  their  position  in  front  without  terrible 
loss.  The  very  boldness  of  the  proposed  movement, 
if  executed  with  secrecy  and  despatch,  was  an  earnest 
of  success.  Jackson  was  directed  to  carry  out  the 
plan. 

Soon  after  the  dawn  of  day  he  began  the  march 
with  his  corps,  who,  comprehending  intuitively  that 
their  leader  was  engaged  in  one  of  his  masterly  flank 
movements,  and  catching  their  inspiration  from  his 
own  eagerness  and  enthusiasm,  pressed  rapidly  for- 
ward, over  the  narrow  country  roads.  This  move- 
ment was  not  altogether  un  perceived  by  the  Federals, 
but  they  interpreted  so  early  a  march  southward  as 
a  retreat  towards  Richmond.  Some  slight  skirmish- 
ing of  artillery  and  riflemen  was  attempted,  but  did 
not  last  long,  and  Hooker  seemed  to  be  awaiting  fur- 
ther developments.     By  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 


436  LIFE    OF   GENERAL    THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 

Jackson  bad  marched  fifteen  miles,  and  was  six  miles 
west  of  Cliancellorsville,  occupying  precisely  the  op- 
posite side  of  the  enemy  to  that  held  by  General  Lee. 
It  was  here  that  he  addressed  his  last  official  note  to 
his  commander,  which  was  as  follows: 

''  Near  3  p.m.,  May  2d,  1803. 
^'  General, — The  enemy  has  made  a  stand  at  Chan- 
cellor s,  which  is  about  two  miles  from  Chancellors- 
ville.     I  hope,  so  soon  as  practicable,  to  attack. 

'*  I  trust  that  an  ever-kind  Providence  will  bless  us 
with  success. 

''  Eespect  fully, 

''  T.  J.  Jackson,  Lieutenant-Genei'al. 
"  General  Robekt  E.  Lee. 

up  g^ — Tiie  leading  division  is  up,  and  the  next 
two  appear  to  be  well  closed.  T.  J.  J." 

Stuart  was  covering  this  flank  movement  with  his 
vigilant  cavalry,  and  from  his  outposts  Jackson 
was  able  to  gain  a  glimpse  of  the  enemy's  position, 
which  satisfied  him  that  he  had  obtained  the  desired 
vantage-ground  from  which  to  attack. 

The  country  around  Chancellorsville  is  densely 
wooded  with  scrub  oak  and  pine,  which,  with  tan- 
o-led  undergrowth,  form  almost  impenetrable  depths 
from  which  it  is  appropriately  called  "  The  AVildei'- 
ness."  But  in  the  open  fields  near  the  old  Wilder- 
ness Tavern,  General  Jackson  found  space  in  which 
to  draw  up  his  troops.  He  formed  them  in  three  par- 
allel lines,  and  selected  two  picked  batteries  to  move 
down  the  turnpike,  which  marked  the  centre  of  his 
lilies — the  thick  forests  into  which   he  was  about  to 


CHARGING  THROUGH  THE    FOREST.  437 

plunge  affording  no  possible  position  for  the  rest  of 
his  artillerj^  By  six  o'clock  all  was  in  readiness  for 
the  advance,  and  at  the  ^yord  of  command  the  three 
lines  charged  forward,  rushing  with  all  the  speed  it 
was  possible  to  make  through  the  forests  and  dense 
brushwood,  which  almost  tore  the  clothing  of  the 
soldiers  from  their  bodies,  and  compelled  them  to 
creep  through  many  places;  but  still  they  pressed 
on,  as  best  they  could.  The  following  description  of 
what  followed  is  taken  from  -'The  Battle-Fields  of 
Virginia :" 

"  The  forest  was  full  of  game,  which,  startled  from 
their  hiding-places  by  the  unusual  presence  of  man, 
ran  in  numbers  to  and  over  the  Federal  lines.  Deer 
leaped  over  the  works  at  Talley's,  and  dashed  into 
the  wood  behind.  The  Federal  troops  had  in  most 
eases  their  arms  stacked,  and  were  eating  supper. 
All  danger  was  thought  to  be  over  for  the  night. 
The  startled  game  gave  the  first  intimation  of  Jack- 
son's approach.  But  so  little  was  it  suspected  or 
beheved  that  the  suggestion  was  treated  as  a  jest. 
Presently  the  bugles  were  heard  through  which 
orders  were  passed  along  the  Confederate  lines.  This 
excited  still  more  remark.  Ere  it  had  been  long 
discussed,  however,  there  came  the  sound  of  a  few 
straggling  shots  from  the  skirmishers,  then  a  mighty 
cheer,  and  in  a  moment  more  Jackson  was  upon  them. 
A  terrible  volley  from  his  line  of  battle  poured  among 
the  Union  troops  ere  they  could  recover  from  their 
surprise.  Those  in  line  returned  a  scattered  fire; 
others  seized  their  arms  and  attempted  to  form. 
Officers  tried  to  steady  their  men  and  lead  them  to 


438  I^IfE   OF  GEXERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

meet  the  attack.  All  was  in  vain.  .  .  .  Like  a  tor- 
nado the  Confederate  lines  pass  over  the  ground, 
breaking,  crushing,  crumbling  Howard's  corps.  Artil- 
lery, wagons,  ambulances,  are  driven  in  frantic  panic 
to  the  rear,  and  double  the  confusion.  The  rout  is 
utter  and  hopeless.  The  mass  of  pursuers  and  pur- 
sued roll  on  until  the  position  of  Melzi  Chancellor's 
is  reached.  Here  a  strong  line  of  works  had  been 
constructed  across  the  road,  which,  having  a  shal- 
low ditch,  could  be  made  to  face  in  either  direction. 
.  .  .  Some  of  Schurz's  men  rally  on  Buschbeck, 
and  for  a  short  time  the  Confederate  advance  is  ar- 
rested. But  Jackson  cannot  long  be  held  back.  Col- 
ston's division  has  eagerly  pressed  on,  and  is  already 
commingled  with  Kodes's.  Together  they  charge 
with  a  yell ;  and  in  a  few  moments  the  works  are 
taken.  Pell-mell  now  rush  the  Eleventh  Corps,  the 
last  semblance  of  organization  gone,  through  the 
forest,  towards  Chancellorsville.  Onward  sweep  the 
Confederates  in  hot  pursuit.  The  arms,  knapsacks, 
and  accoutrements  of  the  fugitives  fill  the  woods. 
Artillerv  carriagfes  are  to  be  seen  overturned  in  the 
narrow  roads,  or  hopelessly  jammed  in  the  impene- 
trable jungle.  The  wounded  and  dying,  with  their 
groans,  fill  the  forest  on  every  side.  The  day  is  rai> 
idly  drawing  to  a  close ;  night  comes  to  add  confu- 
sion to  the  scene.  It  had  been  impossible  in  the  broad 
daylight,  owing  to  the  intricacy  of  the  forest,  to  pre- 
vent a  commingling  of  regiments  and  brigades  along 
the  Confederate  lines.  The  confusion  thus  produced 
is  greatly  increased  by  the  darkness.  In  a  brush- 
wood so  dense  that  it  is  impossible,  under  favorable 
circumstances,  to   see  thirtv  yards  in  anv  direction. 


THE  TROOPS  BECOME  CONFUSED.        439 

companies,  regiments,  brigades,  become  inextricably 
intermixed.  Colston's  division,  forming  the  second 
line,  has  already  become  merged  Avith  Kodes's.  Both 
move  on  in  one  confused  mass.  The  right  of  the 
Confederate  line  soon  reaches  an  abatis  which  has 
been  felled  to  protect  the  approach  to  some  woods 
on  the  opposite  heights.  The  troops,  already  disor- 
dered, become  still  more  so  among  the  felled  timber. 
Behind  this  abatis  some  troops  and  artillery  have 
been  gathered  to  make  a  stand.  Rodes  finds  it  im- 
possible to  push  farther  until  the  lines  can  be  re- 
formed. The  right  is  first  halted,  and  then  the  whole 
Confederate  fine.  Rodes  sends  word  at  once  to  Jack- 
son, requesting  that  the  third  line  (A.  P.  Hill's  divi- 
sion) be  sent  forward  to  take  the  advance  until  the 
first  and  second  can  be  reformed. 

"  While  this  was  being  done,  there  was  a  lull  in  the 
storm  of  battle.  Jackson  had  paused  for  a  time  in 
his  pursuit ;  Hooker  was  attempting  to  stop  and 
reform  his  flying  legions." 

During  this  splendid  charge  Jackson  was  the  im- 
personation of  military  enthusiasm,  dashing  on  at  the 
head  of  his  men,  with  the  words  of  command,  "  For- 
ward!"  "  Press  on !"  continually  ringing  from  his 
lips.  He  leaned  forward  upon  his  horse,  and  waved 
his  hand,  as  though  by  its  single  strength  he  were 
trying  to  impel  his  men  onward.  As  cheer  after 
cheer  rose  from  the  Confederate  line,  announcing 
new  successes,  his  flashing  eyes  and  glowing  cheeks 
showed  how  deeply  he  w^as  moved,  and  he  was  ob- 
served frequently  to  look  upwards  and  lift  his  right 
hand  to  heaven  in  prayer  and  thanksgiving. 


440  I-IFE   OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

Thus  far  liis  most  sanguine  hopes  had  been  real- 
ized. His  flank  movement  Avas  a  brilliant  success — 
the  enemy  had  been .  surprised,  and  their  right  flank 
been  driven  back  in  confusion.  But  he  knew  that 
much  had  3^et  to  be  done  before  the  victory  could  be 
complete.  The  first  blow  must  be  followed  by  others. 
He  therefore  deeply  regretted  the  disorder  in  Avhich 
his  own  lines  had  fallen.  After  marching  twenty 
miles,  and  fighting  over  three  miles  of  difficult  ground, 
it  was  no  wonder  that  the  men,  feeling  assured  of 
victory,  halted  from  weariness  and  broke  ranks,  as 
though  the  day's  work  were  done.  But  though  the 
enemy  had  been  driven  from  an  important  defence, 
which  might  be  reoccupied  at  any  moment  if  the  Con- 
federates failed  to  seize  it,  Jackson  saw  that  every- 
thing depended  on  immediately  reforming  his  lines. 
He  despatched  his  staff  in  every  direction  to  order 
the  officers  to  get  the  men  back  into  ranks  and  press 
forward.  Dashing  along  the  lines  himself,  almost 
unattended,  he  kept  saying:  "  Men,  get  into  line  I  get 
into  line!  Whose  regiment  is  this?  Colonel,  get 
your  men  instantly  into  line."  Turning  to  an  officer 
who  came  up  to  report,  he  said :  "  Find  General 
Eodes,  and  tell  him  to  occupy  that  barricade  at  once 
with  his  troops."  He  then  added:  "  I  need  your  help 
for  a  time ;  this  disorder  must  be  corrected.  As  you 
go  along  the  right,  tell  the  troops,  from  me,  to  get 
into  line,  and  preserve  their  order." 

After  this  strenuous  effort  to  restore  order  to  his 
lines,  he  rode  forward  to  make  a  reconnoissance  him- 
self, and  found  that  Hooker  was  indeed  advancing  a 
powerful  body  of  fresh  troops  in  his  direction.  Being 
pressed  in   front  by   General  Lee,  the  Federal  com- 


WOUNDED   BY   HIS   OWX   MEX.  Ul 

mander  turned  upon  the  foe  in  the  rear,  and  endeav- 
ored to  recapture  the  all-important  barricade.  General 
Jackson,  accompanied  by  a  part  of  his  staff  and  sev- 
eral couriers,  advanced  on  the  turnpike  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  enemy  about  a  hundred  yards,  when  he 
was  fired  upon  by  a  volley  of  musketry  from  his 
right  front.  The  bullets  whistled  among  the  party, 
and  struck  several  horses.  This  fire  was  evidently 
from  the  enemy,  and  one  of  his  men  caught  his  bridle- 
rein  and  said  to  him :  ''  General  Jackson,  you  should 
not  expose  yourself  so  much."  "  There  is  no  danger," 
he  replied,  "  the  enemy  is  routed.  Go  back  and  tell 
General  Hill  to  press  on."  But  in  order  to  screen 
himself  from  the  flying  bullets,  he  rode  from  the  road 
to  the  left  and  rear.  The  small  trees  and  brushwood 
being  very  dense,  it  was  difficult  to  effect  a  passage 
on  horseback.  While  riding  as  rapidly  as  possible  to 
the  rear,  he  came  in  front  of  his  own  line  of  battle, 
who,  having  no  idea  that  he,  or  any  one  but  the  enemy, 
was  in  their  front,  and  mistaking  the  party  for  a  body 
of  Federal  cavalry,  opened  a  sharp  fire  upon  them. 
From  this  volley  General  Jackson  received  his  mortal 
wounds.  His  right  hand  was  pierced  by  a  bullet,  his 
left  arm  was  shattered  by  two  balls,  one  above  and 
one  below  the  elbow,  breaking  the  bones  and  sever- 
ing the  main  artery.  His  horse,  "  Little  Sorrel,"  ter- 
rified by  the  nearness  and  suddenness  of  the  fire, 
dashed  off  in  the  direction  of  the  enemy,  and  it  was 
with  great  difficulty  that  he  could  control  him — his 
bridle  hand  being  helpless,  and  the  tangled  brush- 
wood, through  which  he  Avas  borne,  almost  drag- 
ging him  from  his  seat.  But  he  seized  the  reins  with 
his  right  hand,  and,  arresting  the  flight  of  his  horse, 


442  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

brought  him  back  into  his  own  lines,  where,  ahnost 
fainting,  he  was  assisted  to  the  ground  by  Captain 
AVilbourne,  his  signal  officer.  By  this  lire  several  of 
his  escort  were  killed  and  wounded,  among  the  former 
was  the  gallant  Captain  Boswell,  and  every  horse 
which  was  not  shot  down  wheeled  back  in  terror, 
bearing  his  rider  towards  the  advancing  enemy.  The 
firing  was  arrested  by  Lieutenant  Morrison,  who, 
after  his  horse  was  killed  under  him,  ran  to  the  front 
of  the  firing  line,  and  with  much  difficulty  in  making 
himself  heard,  told  them  they  were  firing  into  their 
own  men.  As  soon  as  this  was  effected,  he  returned 
to  find  his  general  lying  prostrate  upon  the  ground, 
with  Captain  "Wilbourne  and  Mr.  Winn  by  his  side. 
He  was  wearing  at  the  time  an  india-rubber  over- 
coat over  his  uniform,  as  a  protection  from  the  damp- 
ness of  the  night.  This  Wilbourne  was  ripping  up 
with  a  penknife  to  get  at  the  wounded  arm  and 
stanch  its  bleeding.  General  A.  P.  Hill,  who  was 
near  by,  was  speedily  informed  of  the  disaster  and 
came  at  once.  Dismounting  from  his  horse,  he  bent 
down  and  asked,  "  General',  are  you  much  hurt  V  He 
replied,  "  Yes,  general,  I  think  I  am ;  and  all  my 
wounds  were  from  my  own  men.  I  believe  my  arm 
is  broken ;  it  gives  me  severe  pain."  "  Are  you  hurt 
elsewhere,  general  ?"  he  was  asked.  "  Yes,  in  my  right 
hand."  But  when  asked  afterwards  if  it  should  be 
bound  up,  he  said  :  "  No,  never  mind ;  it  is  a  trifle."' 
And  yet  two  of  the  bones  were  broken,  and  the  palm 
was  almost  pierced  through !  Amidst  all  his  suffer- 
ings he  uttered  no  complaint,  and  answered  all  ques- 
tions in  a  perfectly  calm  and  self-possessed  tone.  He 
asked  for  Dr.  McGuire,  but  when  told  that  he   was 


CARRIED    OFF   THE  FIELD.  443 

engaged  in  his  duties  far  in  the  rear,  he  said  to  Cap- 
tain AVilbourne :  "  Then  I  wish  you  to  get  me  a  skil- 
ful surgeon."  General  Hill  stated  that  a  Dr.  Barr 
was  near  at  hand,  and  he  was  immediately  summoned. 
Upon  his  arrival,  General  Jafckson  whispered  to  Gen- 
eral Hill :  ''  Is  he  a  skilful  surgeon  ?"  The  answer 
was  that  he  stood  high  in  his  brigade,  and  all  that 
would  be  required  of  him  would  be  to  take  precau- 
tionary measures  until  Dr.  McGuire  could  arrive.  To 
this  General  Jackson  answered,  ''Yery  good."  His 
field-glass  and  haversack  were  removed  from  his  per- 
son, and  the  latter  was  found  to  contam  only  a  few 
official  papers  and  two  rehgious  tracts.  "While  the 
sufferer  was  still  lying  prostrate,  with  a  circle  of 
his  ministering  attendants  around  him,  two  Federal 
soldiers,  with  muskets  cocked,  walked  out  from  the 
brushwood,  and  approached  within  a  few  feet  of  the 
group.  General  Hill,  in  a  perfectly  quiet  tone  and 
manner,  turned  and  said :  ''  Take  charge  of  those  men." 
In  an  instant  two  orderlies  sprang  forward  and  seized 
their  guns,  which  the  astonished  soldiers  yielded  with- 
out any  resistance.  Lieutenant  Morrison,  hearing 
voices  in  the  direction  of  the  enemy,  stepped  to  the 
edge  of  the  wood  to  reconnoitre,  and  in  the  moon- 
light saw  a  section  of  artillery  being  unlimbered  not 
over  a  hundred  yards  distant.  Eeturning  with  all 
haste,  he  reported  the  fact,  when  General  Hill  gave 
orders  that  General  Jackson  should  immediately  be 
carried  to  the  rear,  and  that  no  one  should  tell  the 
troops  that  he  was  wounded.  Eemounting  his 
horse,  he  returned  to  his  own  command,  and  was 
soon  afterwards  himself  disabled  by  a  wound.  Lieu- 
tenants Smith  and  Morrison,  Captain  Leigh,  of  Gen- 


444  LIFE   OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

eral  Hill's  staff,  with  a  courier,  now  took  General 
Jackson  up  in  their  arms,  but  after  bearing  him  a 
short  distance,  he  told  them  that  he  suffered  so  much 
pain  from  being  carried  that  he  would  try  to  walk, 
and  after  they  assisted  him  to  his  feet,  he  did  walk 
as  far  as  the  turnpike. 

Just  as  the}'  reached  the  road,  the  battery  which 
had  been  seen  to  unlimber  swept  over  them  a  volley 
of  canister-shot — the  balls  hissing  through  the  air, 
and  crashing  through  the  trees,  but  fortunately  pass- 
ing over  their  heads.  The  whole  party  then  lay  down 
on  the  side  of  the  road,  shielding  the  general,  as  far 
as  possible,  by  placing  him  on  the  lowest  ground. 
While  lying  here,  the  earth  around  them  was  torn 
up  by  shot,  covering  them  with  dust,  and  a  hurricane 
of  lead  and  canister  dashed  ao^ainst  the  flintv  o^ravel 
and  stones  of  the  road,  making  it  literally  glow  with 
flashes  and  streaks  of  fire.  So  furious  and  deadly 
was  the  tempest,  that  the  escape  of  any  of  the  party 
seemed  miraculous.  Once  General  Jackson  attempted 
to  rise,  but  was  restrained  by  his  attendants,  who 
sought  to  protect  him  with  their  own  bodies.  Lieu- 
tenant Smith  threw  his  arm  over  him,  holding  him 
down  and  saying :  "  General,  you  must  be  still;  it  will 
cost  you  your  life  if  you  rise."  With  such  fidelity 
did  these  young  soldiers  stand  over  the  prostrate  form 
of  their  beloved  chief,  trying  to  save  his  life,  though 
it  should  be  by  the  sacrifice  of  their  own. 

The  enemy  soon  changed  from  canister  to  shell  and 
elevated  their  range,  when  the  young  men  renewed 
their  efforts  to  get  General  Jackson  to  the  rear,  sup- 
porting him  with  their  strong  arms,  as  he  slowly  and 
painfully  dragged  himself  along.     As  the  Confederate 


"DON'T   TELL   THEM   WHO    IT   IS."  445 

troops  were  hurrying  to  the  front,  they  met  the  party, 
and  the  question  came  from  the  lips  of  ahnost  every 
passer-b}^  "  Whom  have  you  there  T'  The  general, 
not  wishing  his  troops  to  recognize  him,  gave  orders 
to  leave  the  road  and  diverge  into  the  woods.  He 
said  to  his  attendants :  "  Don't  tell  them  who  it  is, 
but  simply  say  it  is  a  Confederate  officer."  Despite 
these  precautions,  he  did  not  escape  recognition  by 
some  of  his  men,  who  exclaimed  with  grief  and  dis- 
may :  "  Great  God !  it  is  General  Jackson  !"  General 
Pender,  of  North  Carolina,  was  one  of  those  who  rec- 
ognized him,  and  after  approaching  and  expressing 
his  deep  regret  at  his  wounding,  said  to  him :  "  The 
troops  have  suffered  severely  from  the  enemy's  artil- 
lery, and  are  somewhat  disorganized ;  I  fear  we  can- 
not maintain  our  position."  Faint  and  exhausted  as 
he  was,  a  gleam  of  the  old  battle-fire  flashed  from  his 
eyes,  and  instantlv  he  replied :  "  You  must  hold  your 
ground.  General  Pender ;  you  must  hold  your  ground, 
sir."  This  was  the  last  order  given  by  the  hero  of  so 
many  battle-fields. 

Growing  more  faint  after  this,  he  asked  to  be  per- 
mitted to  sit  down  and  rest,  but  the  dangers  from  the 
enemy's  fire  and  from  capture  Avere  too  imminent, 
and  a  litter  having  now  been  procured  from  an  ambu- 
lance corps,  he  was  placed  upon  it,  and  the  bearers 
hurried  forward,  still  keeping  out  of  the  road  to 
avoid  the  fire  of  the  enemy.  As  they  struggled 
through  the  dense  thickets,  his  face  was  scratched 
and  his  clothing  torn ;  but  this  was  nothing  in  com- 
parison with  the  agony  caused  by  a  fall  from  the 
litter.  One  of  the  bearers  was  shot  in  the  arm, 
and,  letting  go   his  hold,  the   general  fell  violently 


uc> 


LIFE  OF  GEXERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 


to  the  ground,  upon  his  wounded  side,  causing  such 
pain  that  for  the  first  time  he  was  heard  to  utter 
a  groan.  His  attendants  quickly  raised  him  up, 
and,  finding  the  blood  again  flowing,  and  a  look  of 
deathly  pallor  upon  his  face,  feared  he  might  be  expir- 
ing. Lieutenant  Smith  cried  out,  "  Oh,  general,  are 
you  seriously  hurt  ^"'  '*  No,  Mr.  Smith,  don't  trouble 
yourself  about  me,"  he  replied,  and  presently  added 
something  about  winning  the  battle  first,  and  attend- 
ing to  the  wounded  afterwards.  He  was  again  placed 
upon  the  litter,  and  carried  a  few  hundred  yards, 
under  a  continuous  fire,  when  the  party  was  met  by 
Dr.  McGuire  with  an  ambulance.  We  will  let  him 
tell  the  rest  of  the  harrowing  story,  until  my  arrival 
at  his  bedside. 


MONUMENT    WHEKE    JA<JK8UN    FELL,  AT    (JHANCELLORSVILLE. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

IX  THE  YALLF.Y  OF  THE   SHADOW.— AT  REST— 1863. 

On  meeting  the  wounded  general,  sajs  Dr.  Mc- 
Gaire :  "  I  knelt  down  by  him  and  said,  '  I  hope  you 
are  not  badly  hurt,  general  V  He  replied  very  calmly, 
but  feebly,  '  I  am  badly  injured,  doctor ;  I  fear  I  am 
dying.'  After  a  pause  he  continued,  '  I  am  glad  you 
have  come.  I  think  the  wound  in  my  shoulder  is  still 
bleeding.'  His  clothe^  were  saturated  with  blood,  and 
hemorrhage  was  still  going  on  from  the  wound.  Com- 
pression of  the  artery  with  the  finger  arrested  it,  until, 
lio-hts  being  procured  from  the  ambulance,  the  hand- 
kerchief, which  had  slipped  a  httle,  was  readjusted. 
His  calmness  amid  the  dangers  that  surrounded  him, 
and  at  the  supposed  presence  of  death,  and  his  uni- 
form politeness  did  not  forsake  him  even  under  these 
most  trying  circumstances.  His  complete  control,  too, 
over  his  mind,  enfeebled  as  it  was  by  loss  of  blood 
and  pain,  was  wonderful.  His  suffering  at  this  time 
was  intense ;  his  hands  were  cold,  his  skin  clammy, 
his  face  pale,  and  his  hps  compressed  and  bloodless ; 
not  a  groan  escaped  him  —  not  a  sign  of  suffering, 
except  the  slight  corrugation  of  his  brow,  the  fixed, 
rigid  face,  and  the  thin  lips,  so  tightly  compressed 
that  the  impression  of  the  teeth  could  be  seen 
through  them.  Except  these,  he  controlled  by  his 
iron  will  all  evidences  of  emotion,  and,  more  difficult 


448  LIFE   OF   GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

than  this  even,  he  controlled  that  disposition  to  rest- 
lessness, which  many  of  us  have  observed  upon  the 
field  of  battle,  attending  great  loss  of  blood.  Some 
whiskey  and  morphia  were  administered  to  him,  and, 
placing  him  in  the  ambulance,  it  was  started  for  the 
Corps  Field  Infirmary,  at  the  Wilderness  Tavern. 
Colonel  Crutchfield,  his  chief  of  artillery,  was  also  in 
the  ambulance.  He  had  been  Avounded  very  seriously 
in  the  leg,  and  was  suffering  intensely.  The  general 
expressed  very  feelingly  his  sympathy  for  Crutchfield, 
and  once,  when  the  latter  groaned  aloud,  he  directed 
the  ambulance  to  stop,  and  requested  me  to  see  if 
somethinof  could  not  be  done  for  his  relief.  Torches 
had  been  provided,  and  every  means  taken  to  carry 
them  to  the  hospital  as  safely  and  easily  as  possible. 
I  sat  in  the  front  part  of  the  ambulance,  with  my  fin- 
ger resting  upon  the  artery  above  the  wound  to  arrest 
bleeding  if  it  should  occur.  When  I  was  recognized 
by  acquaintances  and  asked  who  was  wounded,  the 
general  would  tell  me  to  say,  '  A  Confederate  officer.' 
At  one  time  he  put  his  hand  upon  my  head,  and,  pull- 
ing me  down  to  him,  asked  if  Crutchfield  was  seriously 
wounded.  When  answered,  '  Xo,  onh^  painfully  hurt  J 
he  I'eplied,  '  I  am  glad  it  is  no  worse.'  In  a  few  inin- 
utes  afterwards  Crutchfield  did  the  same  thing,  and 
when  told  that  the  general  w^as  very  seriously  wound- 
ed, he  groaned  out,  '  Oh,  my  God !'  It  was  for  this 
that  the  general  directed  the  ambulance  to  be  halted, 
and  requested  that  something  should  be  done  for 
Crutchfield's  relief. 

"  After  reaching  the  hospital  he  Avas  placed  in  ))e(l, 
covered  with  blankets,  and  another  drink  of  whiskey 
and  water  given  him.     Two  hours  and  a  half  elapsed 


HIS  LEFT   ARil  IS   AMPUTATED.  449 

before  sufficient  reaction  took  place   to  warrant  an 
examination. 

"At  two  o'clock  Sunday  morning,  Surgeons  Black, 
Walls,  and  Coleman  being  present,  I  informed  him 
that  chloroform  would  be  given  him,  and  his  wounds 
examined.  I  told  him  that  amputation  would  proba- 
bly be  required,  and  asked,  if  it  was  found  necessary, 
whether  it  should  be  done  at  once.  He  replied  prompt- 
ly, '  Yes,  certainly,  Dr.  McGuire,  do  for  me  whatever 
you  think  best.'  Chloroform  was  then  administered, 
and  as  he  began  to  feel  its  effects  and  its  relief  to 
the  pain  he  was  suffering,  he  exclaimed,  'What  an 
infinite  blessing!'  and  continued  to  repeat  the  word 
'  blessing '  until  he  became  insensible.  The  round  ball 
(such  as  is  used  in  a  smooth-bore  Springfield  musket), 
which  had  lodged  under  the  skin,  upon  the  back  of 
the  right  hand,  was  first  extracted.  It  had  entered 
the  palm  about  the  middle  of  the  hand,  and  fractured 
two  bones.  The  left  arm  was  then  amputated  about 
two  inches  below  the  shoulder,  very  rapidly,  and  with 
slight  loss  of  blood,  the  ordinary  circular  operation 
having  been  made.  There  were  two  wounds  in  this 
arm,  the  first  and  most  serious  was  about  three  inches 
below  the  shoulder-joint,  the  ball  dividing  the  mam 
artery,  and  fracturing  the  bone.  The  second  was  sev- 
eral inches  in  length — a  ball  having  entered  the  out- 
side of  the  forearm,  an  inch  below  the  elbow,  came 
out  upon  the  opposite  side,  just  above  the  wrist. 
Throughout  the  whole  of  the  operation,  and  until  all 
the  dressings  were  appUed,  he  continued  insensible. 
Two  or  three  slight  wounds  of  the  skin  of  his  face, 
received  from  the  branches  of  trees,  when  his  horse 
dashed  through  the  woods,  were  dressed  simply  with 
29 


-t50     LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

isinglass  plaster.  About  half-past  three  o'clock  Colo- 
nel (then  Major)  Pendleton,  the  assistant  adjutant-gen- 
eral, arrived  at  the  hospital  and  asked  to  see  General 
Jackson.  He  stated  that  General  Hill  had  been  wound- 
ed, and  that  the  troops  were  in  great  disorder.  Gen- 
eral Stuart  Avas  in  command,  and  had  sent  him  to  see 
the  general.  At  first  I  declined  to  permit  the  inter- 
view, but  the  colonel  urged  that  the  safety  of  the  army 
and  the  success  of  the  cause  depended  upon  his  seeing 
him.  When  he  entered  the  tent  the  general  said : 
'  Well,  major,  I  am  glad  to  see  you.  I  thought  you 
were  killed.'  Pendleton  briefly  explained  the  condi- 
tion of  affairs,  gave  Stuart's  message,  and  asked  what 
should  be  done  ?  General  Jackson  was  at  once  inter- 
ested, and  asked,  in  his  quick,  rapid  way,  several  ques- 
tions. When  they  were  answered,  he  remained  silent 
for  a  moment,  evidently  trying  to  think  ;  he  contract- 
ed his  brow,  set  his  mouth,  and  for  some  moments  was 
evidently  trying  to  concentrate  his  thoughts.  For  a 
moment  it  was  believed  he  had  succeeded,  for  his  nos- 
trils dilated,  and  his  eye  flashed  its  old  fire,  but  it  was 
only  for  a  moment ;  his  face  relaxed  again,  and  pres- 
ently he  answered,  very  feebly  and  sadly,  '  I  don't 
know,  I  can't  tell ;  say  to  General  Stuart  he  must  do 
what  he  thinks  best.'  Soon  after  this  he  slept  for  sev- 
eral hours  and  seemed  to  be  doing  well.  The  next 
morning  he  was  free  from  pain,  and  expressed  himself 
sanguine  of  recovery.  He  sent  his  aide-de-camp,  Mor- 
rison, to  inform  his  Avife  of  his  injuries,  and  to  bring 
her  at  once  to  him.  The  following  note  from  General 
Lee  was  read  to  him  that  morning  by  Lieutenant 
Smith  :  '  I  have  just  received  your  note,  informing  me 
that  you  were  wounded.     I  cannot  express  my  regret 


ASKS  FOR  REPORTS  OF  THE  BATTLE.      451 

at  the  occurrence.  Could  I  have  directed  events,  I 
should  have  chosen,  for  the  good  of  the  country,  to 
have  been  disabled  in  your  stead.  I  congratulate  you 
upon  the  victory  which  is  due  to  your  skill  and  ener- 
gy.' He  replied,  '  General  Lee  should  give  the  praise 
to  God.'  About  ten  o'clock  his  right  side  began  to 
pain  him  so  much  that  he  asked  me  to  examine  it.  He 
said  he  had  injured  it  in  falling  from  the  litter  the 
night  before,  and  believed  he  had  struck  it  against  a 
stump  or  a  stone  or  a  sapling.  Xo  evidence  of  injury 
could  be  discovered  by  examination  ;  the  skin  was  not 
broken  or  bruised,  and  the  lung  performed,  so  far  as  I 
could  tell,  its  proper  function.  Some  simple  appli- 
cation was  recommended  in  the  belief  that  the  pam 
would  soon  disappear. 

''  At  this  time  the  battle  was  raging  fearfully,  and 
the  sound  of  the  cannon  and  musketry  could  be  dis- 
tinctly heard  at  the  hospital.  The  general's  attention 
was  attracted  to  it  from  the  first,  and  when  the  noise 
was  at  its  height,  and  indicated  how  fiercely  the  con- 
flict was  being  carried  on,  he  directed  all  of  his  attend- 
ants, except  Lieutenant  Smith  to  return  to  the  battle- 
field, and  attend  to  their  different  duties.  By  eight 
o'clock,  Sunday  night,  the  pain  in  his  side  had  disap- 
peared, and  in  all  respects  he  seemed  to  be  doing  well. 
He  inquired  minutely  about  the  battle  and  the  differ- 
ent troops  engaged,  and  his  face  would  light  up  with 
enthusiasm  and  interest  when  told  how  this  brigade 
acted,  or  that  officer  displayed  conspicuous  courage, 
and  his  head  gave  the  peculiar  shake  from  side  to  side, 
and  he  uttered  his  usual '  Good,  good !'  with  unwonted 
energy  when  the  gallant  behavior  of  the  Stonewall 
Brigade  was  alluded  to.     He  said :  '  The  men  of  the 


452     LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

brigade  will  be,  some  day,  proud  to  say  to  their  chil- 
dren, *'  I  Avas  one  of  the  Stonewall  Brigade." '  He 
disclaimed  any  right  of  his  own  to  the  name  Stone- 
wall. '  It  belongs  to  the  brigade,  and  not  to  me,  for 
it  was  their  steadfast  heroism  which  earned  it  at  First 
Manassas.  They  are  a  noble  body  of  men.'  This 
night  he  slept  well,  and  was  free  from  pain.  A  mes- 
sage was  received  from  General  Lee  the  next  morn- 
ino\  directini^:  me  to  remove  the  s^eneral  to  Guinev's 
Station  as  soon  as  his  condition  should  justify  it,  as 
there  was  danger  of  capture  by  the  Federals,  who  were 
threatening  to  cross  Ely's  Ford.  In  the  meantime,  to 
protect  the  hospital,  some  troops  were  sent  to  this 
point.  The  general  objected  to  being  moved,  if,  in  my 
opinion,  it  would  do  him  any  injury.  He  said  he  had 
no  objection  to  staying  in  the  tent,  and  would  prefer 
it,  if  his  wife,  when  she  came,  could  find  lodging  in  a 
neighboring  house.  'And  if  the  enemy  does  come,' 
he  added,  '  I  am  not  afraid  of  them ;  I  have  always 
been  kind  to  their  wounded,  and  I  am  sure  they  will 
be  kind  to  me.'  General  Lee  sent  word  again,  late 
that  evening,  that  he  must  be  moved,  if  possible,  and 
preparations  were  made  to  leave  the  next  morning. 
I  was  directed  to  accompany  and  remain  with  him, 
and  my  duties  with  the  corps,  as  medical  director, 
were  turned  over  to  the  surgeon  next  in  rank.  Gen- 
eral Jackson  had  previously  declined  to  permit  me  to 
go  with  him  to  Guiney's,  because  complaints  had  been 
so  frequently  made  of  general  officers,  when  wounded, 
carrying  off  with  them  the  surgeons  belonging  to  their 
commands.  AVhen  informed  of  this  order  of  the  com- 
manding general,  he  said,  '  General  Lee  has  always 
been  verv  kind  to  me,  and  I  tliank  him.'     Very  early 


CONVEYED  TO   GUIXEY'S  STATION.  453 

Tuesday  morning  he  was  placed  in  the  ambulance,  and 
started  for  Guiney's  Station,  and  about  eight  o'clock 
that  evening  we  arrived  at  the  Chandler  House,  where 
we  remained  till  he  died.  Captain  Hotchkiss,  with  a 
party  of  engineers,  was  sent  in  front  to  clear  the  road 
of  weed  and  stone,  etc.,  and  to  order  the  wagons  out 
of  the  track  to  let  the  ambulance  pass.  The  rough 
teamsters  sometimes  refused  to  move  their  loaded 
wagons  out  of  the  way  for  an  ambulance,  until  told 
that  it  contained  Jackson,  and  then,  with  all  possible 
speed,  they  gave  the  way,  and  stood  with  their  hats 
oif,  and  weeping,  as  he  went  by.  At  Spottsylvania 
Court -House,  and  along  the  whole  route,  men  and 
women  rushed  to  the  ambulance,  bringing  all  the  poor 
delicacies  they  had,  and  with  tearful  eyes  they  blessed 
him,  and  prayed  for  his  recovery.  He  bore  the  jour- 
ney well,  and  was  cheerful  throughout  the  day.  He 
talked  freely  about  the  late  battle,  and  among  other 
things  said  that  he  had  intenfled  to  endeavor  to  cut 
the  Federals  off  from  the  United  States  Ford,  and, 
taking  a  position  between  them  and  the  river,  oblige 
them  to  attack  him ;  and  he  added,  with  a  smile,  '  My 
men  sometimes  fail  to  drive  the  enemy  from  their  posi- 
tion, but  they  always  fail  to  drive  us  away.'  He  spoke 
of  Eodes,  and  alluded  in  high  terms  to  his  magnificent 
behavior  on  the  field  Saturday  evening.  He  hoped  he 
would  be  promoted.  He  thought  promotions  for  gal- 
lantry should  be  made  at  once,  upon  the  field,  and  they 
would  be  great  incentives  to  gallantry  in  others.  He 
spoke  of  Colonel  Willis,  who  commanded  the  skirmish- 
ers of  Rodes's  Division,  and  praised  him  very  highly, 
and  referred  to  the  deaths  of  Paxton  and  Bos  well 
very  feelingly.    He  alluded  to  them  as  officers  of  great 


454:  LIFE   OF   GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

merit  and  promise.  The  day  was  quite  warm,  and  at 
one  time  he  suffered  with  slight  nausea.  At  his  sug- 
gestion I  placed  over  his  stomach  a  wet  towel,  and  he 
expressed  great  relief  from  it.  After  he  arrived  at 
the  Chandler  House,  he  ate  some  bread  and  tea  with 
evident  relish,  and  slept  well  throughout  the  entire 
night.  "Wednesday  he  was  thought  to  be  doing  re- 
markably well.  He  ate  heartily  for  one  in  his  condi- 
tion, and  was  uniformly  cheerful. 

''  I  found  his  Avounds  to  be  doing  very  Avell  to-day. 
Union  by  the  first  intention  had  taken  place,  to  some 
extent  in  the  stump,  and  the  rest  of  the  surface  of  the 
wound  was  covered  with  healthy  granulations.  The 
wound  in  his  hand  gave  him  little  pain,  and  the  dis- 
charge was  healthy.  .  .  .  He  expressed  great  satis- 
faction when  told  that  his  Avounds  Avere  healing,  and 
asked  if  I  could  tell  from  their  appearance  hoAv  long 
he  Avould  probably  be  kept  from  the  field.  Convers- 
ino-  AA^ith  Lieutenant  Smith  a  few  moments  afterwards, 
he  alluded  to  his  injuries,  and  said,  '  Many  Avould  re- 
gard them  as  a  great  misfortune,  but  I  regard  thein 
as  one  of  the  blessings  of  my  life.'  Smith  replied, 
'  All  things  Avork  together  for  the  good  of  them  that 
love  God.'     '  Yes,'  he  answered,  '  that's  it,  that's  it.' 

"  About  one  o'clock  Thursday  morning,  Avhile  I  Avas 
asleep  upon  a  lounge  in  his  room,  he  directed  his  ser- 
vant, Jim,  to  apply  a  Avet  toAvel  to  his  stomach,  to 
relieve  an  attack  of  nausea,  Avith  Avhich  he  Avas  again 
troubled.  The  servant  asked  permission  to  first  con- 
sult me,  but  the  general,  knowing  that  I  had  slept 
none  for  nearly  three  nights,  refused  to  allow  me  to 
be  disturbed,  and  demanded  the  toAvel.  About  day- 
light I  Avas  aroused,  and  found  him  suffering  great 


EXAMIXATIOX   OF   THE   WOUND.  455 

pain.  An  examination  disclosed  plenro-pneumonia  of 
the  right  side.  I  believed,  and  the  consulting  physi- 
cians concurred  in  the  opinion,  that  it  was  attributable 
to  the  fall  from  the  litter  the  night  he  was  wounded. 
The  general  himself  referred  to  this  accident.  I  think 
the  disease  came  on  too  soon  after  the  application  of 
the  wet  cloths  to  admit  of  the  supposition,  once  be- 
lieved, that  it  was  induced  by  them.  The  nausea,  for 
which  the  cloths  were  applied  that  night,  may  have 
been  the  result  of  inflammation  already  begun.  Con- 
tusion of  the  lung  with  extravasation  of  blood  in  his 
chest  was  probably  produced  by  the  fall  referred  to, 
and  shock  and  loss  of  blood  prevented  any  ill  effects 
until  reaction  had  been  well  established,  and  then 
inflammation  ensued.  .  .  .  Towards  the  evening  he 
became  better,  and  hopes  were  again  entertained  of 
his  recovery. 

"  Mrs.  Jackson  arrived  to-day,  and  nursed  him  faith- 
fully to  the  end.  .  .  .  The  general's  joy  at  the  presence 
of  his  wife  and  child  was  very  great,  and  for  him 
unusually  demonstrative." 

After  recovering  from  the  effects  of  chloroform,  Gen- 
eral Jackson  asked  Lieutenant  Smith  whether  he  said 
anything  when  under  its  power,  and  he  continued :  "  I 
have  always  thought  it  wrong  to  administer  chloroform 
where  there  is  a  probability  of  immediate  death.  But 
it  was,  I  think,  the  most  delightful  physical  sensation 
I  ever  enjoyed.  I  had  enough  consciousness  to  know 
what  was  doing ;  and  at  one  time  thought  I  heard  the 
most  delightful  music  that  ever  greeted  my  ears.  I 
believe  it  was  the  sawing  of  the  bone.  But  I  should 
dislike,  above  all  things,  to  enter  eternity  in  such  a  con- 


J.56     LIfE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

dition."  He  afterwards  said  to  other  friends,  ''  What 
an  inestimable  blessing  is  chloroform  to  the  sufferer!" 

After  the  operation,  when  Mr.  Lacy  was  admitted 
to  the  tent,  he  exclaimed  with  deep  feeling,  "Oh, 
general,  what  a  calamity  I''  General  Jackson,  with 
his  accustomed  politeness,  first  thanked  him  for  his 
sympathy,  and  then  said :  "  You  see  me  severely 
wounded,  but  not  dej)ressed  ;  not  unhappy.  I  believe 
it  has  been  done  according  to  God's  holy  will,  and  I 
acquiesce  entirely  in  it.  You  may  think  it  strange ; 
but  you  never  saw  me  more  perfectly  contented  than 
I  am  to-day  ;  for  I  am  sure  that  my  Heavenly  Father 
designs  this  affliction  for  my  good.  I  am  perfectly 
satisfied  that,  either  in  this  life,  or  in  that  which  is 
to  come,  I  shall  discover  that  what  is  now  regarded 
as  a  calamity  is  a  blessing.  And  if  it  appears  a  great 
calamity,  as  it  surely  will  be  a  great  inconvenience, 
to  be  deprived  of  my  arm,  it  will  result  in  a  great 
blessing.  I  can  wait  until  God,  in  His  own  time, 
shall  make  known  to  me  the  object  He  has  in  thus 
afflicting  me.  But  why  should  I  not  rather  rejoice 
in  it  as  a  blessing,  and  not  look  on  it  as  a  calamity 
at  all  ?  If  it  were  in  my  power  to  replace  my  arm,  I 
would  not  dare  to  do  it,  unless  I  could  know  it  was 
the  will  of  my  Heavenly  Father." 

In  the  course  of  this  conversation  he  stated  that, 
when  he  fell  from  the  litter,  he  thought  he  should  die 
upon  the  field,  and  gave  himself  up  into  the  hands  of 
God,  without  a  fear,  and  in  the  possession  of  perfect 
peace.  "  It  has  been,"  he  said,  "  a  precious  experience 
to  me,  that  I  was  brought  face  to  face  with  death, 
and  found  all  was  w^ell.  I  then  learned  an  important 
lesson,  that  one  who  has  been  the  subject  of  convert- 


OPIXIOX   OF   HOOKER'S  PLAX   OF  CAMPAIGX.        45Y 

ing  grace,  and  is  the  child  of  God,  can,  in  the  midst 
of  the  severest  sufferings,  fix  the  thoughts  upon  God 
and  heavenly  things,  and  derive  great  comfort  and 
peace ;  but  that  one  who  had  never  made  his  peace 
with  God  would  be  unable  to  control  his  mind,  under 
such  sufferings,  so  as  to  understand  properly  the  way 
of  salvation,  and  repent  and  believe  on  Christ.  I  felt 
that  if  I  had  neglected  the  salvation  of  my  soul  be- 
fore, it  would  have  been  too  late  then." 

When  General  Lee  was  first  informed  of  the  vic- 
tory gained  by  General  Jackson's  flank  movement, 
and  almost  in  the  same  breath  the  great  catastrophe 
of  the  fall  of  his  lieutenant  was  announced  to  him,  he 
exclaimed  with  deep  emotion,  "Ah,  any  victory  is 
dearly  bought  wliich  deprives  us  of  the  services  of 
Jackson,  even  for  a  short  time."  He  was  then  told 
that  Jackson  had  said,  "  The  enemy  should  be  pressed 
in  the  morning."  ''  Those  people  shall  be  immedi- 
ately pressed,"  he  replied,  and  forthwith  addressed 
himself  to  the  work. 

General  Stuart  was  placed  in  command  of  Jack- 
son's corps,  and  as  he  led  them  to  battle  he  gave  the 
order,  •'  Charge !  and  remember  Jackson !"  an  ap- 
peal which  was  answered  by  their  courage  on  the 
second  day  of  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville. 

Jackson  was  asked  what  he  thought  of  Hooker's 
plan  of  campaign,  and  his  reply  was :  "  It  was,  in  the 
main,  a  good  conception,  sir;  an  excellent  plan.  But 
he  should  not  have  sent  away  his  cavalry ;  that  was 
his  great  blunder.  It  was  that  which  enabled  me  to 
turn  him  without  his  being  aware  of  it,  and  to  take 
him  by  his  rear.  Had  he  kept  his  cavalry  with  him, 
his  plan  would  have  been  a  very  good  one.''   In  speak- 


458      LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

ing  of  this  flank  movement,  he  said  :  "  Our  movement 
yesterday  was  a  great  success ;  I  think  the  most  suc- 
cessful mihtary  movement  of  my  life.  But  I  expect 
to  receive  far  more  credit  for  it  than  I  deserve.  Most 
men  "will  think  that  I  had  planned  it  all  from  the  first; 
but  it  was  not  so.  I  simply  took  advantage  of  cir- 
cumstances as  they  were  presented  to  me  in  the  provi- 
dence of  God.  I  feel  that  His  hand  led  me — let  us 
give  Him  all  the  glory." 

On  Tuesday  he  was  told  that  Hooker  was  in- 
trenched north  of  Chancellorsville,  when  he  said, 
''  That  is  bad  ;  very  bad."  Afterwards,  upon  awaken- 
ing from  a  disturbed  sleep  from  the  influence  of  opi- 
ates, he  exclaimed,  "Major  Pendleton,  send  in  and 
see  if  there  is  higher  ground  back  of  Chancellorsville." 

During  the  fe\v  days  succeeding  his  fall,  when  he 
and  his  friends  were  buoyed  up  by  the  hope  of  his 
recovery,  he  conversed  freely  and  cheerfully,  and  ex- 
pressed a  desire  to  be  taken,  as  soon  as  he  was  able, 
to  his  beloved  home  at  Lexington,  where,  he  said, 
the  pure,  bracing  mountain  air  would  soon  heal  his 
wounds  and  renew  his  strength  and  health. 

He  requested  Mr.  Lacy  to  come  every  morning  at 
ten  o'clock  and  read  the  Bible,  and  have  prayers  at 
his  bedside.  During  these  morning  hours  he  greatly 
enjoyed  religious  conversation,  and  expressed  his  un- 
varying and  steadfast  love  and  hope  in  his  Eedeemer. 
Although  he  had  avowed  his  perfect  willingness  to 
die  whenever  God  called  him,  he  believed  that  his 
time  was  not  yet  come,  and  that  God  still  had  a  Avork 
for  him  to  do  in  defence  of  his  country. 

"  He  delighted  to  enlarge  on  his  favorite  topics  of 


RELIGION  TO   BE   CARRIED   INTO   EVERYTHING.      459 

practical  religion,  which  were  such  as  these :  The 
Christian  should  carry  his  religion  into  everything. 
Christianity  makes  a  man  better  in  any  lawful  call- 
ing; it  makes  the  general  a  better  commander,  and 
the  shoemaker  a  better  workman.  In  the  case  of  a 
cobbler,  or  the  tailor,  for  instance,  religion  will  pro- 
duce more  care  in  promising  Avork,  more  punctuality, 
and  more  fidelit}^  in  executing  it,  from  conscientious 
motives ;  and  these  homely  examples  were  fair  illus- 
trations of  its  value  in  more  exalted  functions.  So, 
prayer  aids  any  man,  in  any  lawful  business,  not  only 
by  bringing  down  the  divine  blessing,  Avhich  is  its 
direct  and  primary  object,  but  bv  harmonizing  his 
own  mind  and  heart.  In  the  commander  of  an  army 
at  the  critical  hour,  it  calms  his  perplexities,  moder- 
ates his  anxieties,  steadies  the  scales  of  judgment, 
and  thus  preserves  him  from  exaggerated  and  rash 
conclusions.  Again  he  urged  that  every  act  of  man's 
life  should  be  a  religious  act.  He  recited  with  much 
pleasure  the  ideas  of  Doddridge,  where  he  pictured 
liimself  as  spiritualizing  every  act  of  his  daily  life; 
as  thinking,  when  he  washed  himself,  of  the  cleans- 
ing blood  of  Calvary ;  as  praying,  while  he  put  on  his 
garments,  that  he  might  be  clothed  with  the  robe  of 
Christ's  righteousness ;  as  endeavoring,  while  he  was 
eating,  to  feed  upon  tli^  Bread  of  Heaven.  So  Jack- 
son was  wont  to  say  that  the  Bible  furnished  men 
with  rules  for  everything.  If  they  would  search,  he 
said,  they  would  find  a  precept,  an  example,  or  a  gen- 
eral principle,  applicable  to  every  possible  emergency 
of  duty,  no  matter  what  was  a  man's  calling.  There 
the  military  man  might  find  guidance  for  every 
exigency.     Then,  turning  to  Lieutenant   Smith,  he 


460     LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

asked  him.  smiling:  'Can  you  tell  me  where  the 
Bible  gives  generals  a  model  for  their  official  reports 
of  battles  f  The  lieutenant  answered,  laughing,  that 
it  never  entered  his  mind  to  think  of  looking  for  such 
a  thing  in  the  Scriptures.  'Nevertheless,'  said  the 
general,  'there  are  such;  and  excellent  models,  too. 
Look,  for  instance,  at  the  narrative  of  Joshua's  bat- 
tle with  the  Amalekites;  there  you  have  one.  It 
has  clearness,  brevity,  fairness,  modesty ;  and  it  traces 
the  victory  to  its  right  source — the  blessing  of  God." 

One  day  he  asked  Dr.  McGuire  whether  he  sup- 
posed the  diseased  persons  healed  by  the  miraculous 
touch  of  the  Saviour  ever  suffered  again  from  the 
same  malady.  He  did  not  believe  they  did  ;  that  the 
healing  virtue  of  Christ  was  too  potent,  and  that  the 
poor  paralytic  to  whom  He  had  once  said,  '^  I  will : 
be  thou  healed,"  never  shook  again  with  palsy.  And 
then,  as  though  invoking  the  same  aid,  he  exclaimed : 
'^Oh  for  infinite  power!"  After  quietly  reflecting 
awhile,  he  inquired  of  Mr.  Smith :  ''  What  were  the 
headquarters  of  Christianity  after  the  crucifixion?" 
He  rephed  that  Jerusalem  was  at  first  the  chief  seat ; 
but  after  the  dispersion  of  the  disciples  thence  by 
persecution,  there  was  none  for  a  time,  until  Antioch, 
Iconium,  Eome,  and  Alexandria,  were  finally  estab- 
lished as  centres  of  influence.  The  general  inter- 
rupted him:  "Why  do  you  say  'centres  of  influence ;' 
is  not  headquarters  a  better  term  ?"  After  some  fur- 
ther explanations  by  Mr.  Smith  (who  Avas  a  theo- 
loo-ical  student),  in  which  General  Jackson  was  much 
interested,  he  said :  •'  Mr.  Smith,  I  wish  you  would 
get  the  map,  and  show  me  precisely  Avhere  Iconium 


HIS   WIFE   UXABLE   TO    REACH   HIM.  4^1 

was."  He  replied  that  he  did  not  think  he  coiikl  find 
a  map,  when  the  general  said,  "  Yes,  sir ;  you  will 
find  an  atlas  in  my  old  trunk."  After  a  fruitless 
search,  Mr.  Smith  suggested  that  it  was  probably  left 
in  his  portable  desk.  He  said,  ''  Yes,  you  are  right,  I 
left  it  in  my  desk  "  (naming  the  shelf).  Then  after  con- 
sidering a  moment,  he  added :  "  Mr.  Smith,  I  wish  you 
Avould  examine  into  that  matter,  and  report  to  meP 

After  the  bright  promise  of  his  recovery  began  to 
diminish,  and  his  physicians  were  trying  every  known 
remedy,  one  of  them  aroused  him  from  a  troubled 
sleep  to  administer  some  draught,  saying,  '^  Will  you 
take  this,  general  ?"  He  looked  up  steadily  into  his 
face,  and  resolutely  said,  "Do  your  duty."  He  re- 
peated the  command,  "  Do  your  duty " — his  mind 
evidently  wandering  back  to  the  camps  and  battle- 
fields, on  which  he  had  so  often  and  so  faithfully  urged 
this  injunction. 

In  resuming  my  sad  story  it  will  be  explained  why 
I  was  not  able  to  reach  my  husband  for  five  days 
after  he  was  wounded,  but  no  tongue  or  pen  can 
express  the  torturing  suspense  and  distress  of  mind 
which  I  endured  during  this  period  of  enforced  ab- 
sence from  him.  As  I  have  before  stated,  kind  friends 
took  me  to  their  hospitable  homes  in  Eichmond. 
After  spending  a  few  days  with  Mrs.  Letcher  in  the 
governor's  mansion,  I  was  invited  by  Mrs.  Hoge  and 
Mrs.  William  Brown  (who  lived  together)  to  the  resi- 
dence of  the  Kev.  Dr.  Moses  D.  Hoge,  who  was  at 
that  time  in  Europe,  on  a  mission  from  the  Confeder- 
ate States  government,  to  procure  Bibles  for  the  sol- 
diers. These  two  ladies  were  lovely  and  pleasant  in 
their  lives,  which  ^vere  redolent  with  Christian  graces 


462  I^IFE   OF   GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

and  usefulness,  and  much  of  their  time  was  devoted  to 
ministering  to  the  soldiers.  For  five  days  I  heard  not 
one  word  directly  from  my  husband,  but  despatches 
from  the  battle-field  were  constantly  received  by  the 
government,  representing  all  as  going  well,  and  victory 
was  confidently  expected. 

On  Sunday  morning,  May  3d,  as  we  arose  from 
family  worship  in  Dr.  Hoge's  parlor,  Dr.  Brown  very 
sadly  and  feelingly  informed  me  that  the  news  had 
come  that  General  Jackson  had  been  wounded — se- 
verely, but  it  was  hoped  not  dangerously.  This  pain- 
ful shock  can  be  better  imagined  than  described. 
Although  I  had  never  for  one  moment  since  the  war 
began  lost  my  solicitude  for  his  safety,  still  God  had 
so  often  covered  his  head  in  the  day  of  battle,  had 
brought  him  through  so  many  dangers,  that  I  felt 
that  his  precious  life  would  still  be  spared.  With  all 
my  agonizing  distress  now,  I  could  not  entertain  any 
other  thought  or  belief  than  this.  Despatches  were 
sent  at  once  inquiring  into  his  condition,  and  asking 
if  I  could  go  to  him.  He  was  reported  as  doing  well, 
but  the  Avay  was  not  open  for  me  to  come  yet.  The 
raiding  -  parties  of  the  enemy  were  operating  all 
through  the  intervening  country — all  passenger  trains 
were  stopped,  and  to  go  through  the  country  in  pri- 
vate conveyance  exposed  travellers  to  capture.  So 
great  was  my  impatience  to  go  that  I  was  willing  to 
risk  this  danger,  but  the  railroad  authorities  were  so 
confident  of  opening  the  way  from  day  to  day  that 
friends  urged  me  to  wait  until  this  could  be  done. 
On  Tuesday  my  brother  Joseph  arrived,  to  my  great 
relief,  to  take  me  to  my  husband,  but  my  disappoint- 
ment was  only  increased   by  his  report  that  it  had 


AT  LAST  ABLE  TO  GET  THROUGH.        4^3 

taken  him  nearly  three  days  to  ride  through  the  coun- 
try and  elude  the  raiding  enemy,  and  this  confirmed 
the  conviction  of  my  friends  that  I  should  await  the 
opening  of  the  railroad.  From  Joseph  were  learned 
the  particulars  of  the  wounds  of  General  Jackson  and 
the  amputation  of  his  arm,  but  he  w\as  thought  to  be 
doing  as  well  as  possible  under  the  circumstances,  and 
was  brave  and  cheerful  in  spirit.  E  very  thin  o-  was 
said  and  done  to  cheer  and  encourage  me,  but  oh  the 
harrowing  agony  of  that  long  waiting,  day  after  day ! 
for  it  was  not  until  Thursday  morning  that  the  block- 
ade was  broken,  and  we  went  up  on  an  armed  train 
prepared  to  fight  its  way  through.  During  all  this 
long  period  of  anxiety  and  suspense,  my  unconscious 
little  nestling  was  all  sweetness  and  sunshine,  shed- 
ding the  only  brightness  and  comfort  over  my  dark- 
ened pathway. 

A  few  hours  of  unmolested  travel  brought  us  to 
Guiney-s  Station,  and  we  were  taken  at  once  to  the 
residence  of  Mr.  Chandler,  w^iich  was  a  large  country- 
house,  and  very  near  it,  in  the  yard,  was  a  small, 
humble  abode,  in  which  lay  my  precious,  suffering 
husband.  The  Chandlers  were  extremely  kind— the 
good  hostess  expressing  great  regret  that  General 
Jackson  was  not  in  her  own  dwelhng,  and  receiving 
the  very  best  of  everything  she  had  to  give ;  but  the 
house  was  occupied  by  sick  and  wounded  soldiers, 
some  of  whom  were  suffering  with  erysipelas,  and  it 
was  the  surgeons  who  had  selected  the  out-house  for 
the  general's  own  safety.  Upon  my  arrival  I  was 
met  by  a  member  of  his  staff,  who,  in  answer  to  my 
anxious  inquiry,  said  the  general  w^as  doing  "  pretty 
well ;"  but  from  his  tone  and  manner  I  knew  some- 


464  LIFE   OF   GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

thing  was  Avrong,  and  my  heart  sank  hke  lead.  He 
said  the  doctor  was  then  engaged  in  dressing  his 
wounds,  and  I  could  not  be  admitted  to  his  room  un- 
til this  was  over.  The  time  could  not  have  been  long, 
but  it  seemed  to  me  hours,  so  sorely  had  I  already 
been  tried  by  ''  hope  deferred  that  maketh  the  heart 
sick."  While  I  was  walking  off  my  impatience  on 
the  piazza,  my  attention  was  attracted  by  a  party  of 
soldiers  within  a  stone's-throw  of  the  house,  digging 
a  ffrave,  but  soon  I  was  horrified  to  see  them  exhum- 
ing  a  coffin,  and  placing  it  above  the  ground.  Upon 
inquirv  it  proved  to  be  that  of  General  E.  F.  Paxton, 
of  Lexington,  who  had  fallen  in  the  late  battle,  whose 
body  was  to  be  taken  to  his  former  Jiome  for  its  final 
interment.  My  husband's  own  neighbor  and  friend ! 
and  I  knew  the  young  wife,  and  remembered  how  I 
had  seen  her  weeping  bitterly  as  she  watched  his  de- 
parture from  her  in  those  first  days  of  the  war,  when 
all  our  hearts  Avere  well-nigh  bursting  with  foreboding 
and  dread.  iSiow  the  cruel  war  had  done  its  worst 
for  he/\  and  she  was  left  widowed,  and  her  children 
fatherless  I 

My  own  heart  almost  stood  still  under  the  weight 
of  horror  and  apprehension  which  then  oppressed 
me.  This  ghastly  spectacle  Avas  a  most  unfitting 
preparation  for  my  entrance  into  the  presence  of  my 
stricken  husband ;  but  when  I  Avas  soon  afterwards 
summoned  to  his  cliamber,  the  sight  Avhicli  there 
met  my  eyes  Avas  far  more  appalling,  and  sent  such 
a  thrill  of  agony  and  heart-sinking  through  me  as  I 
had  never  known  before !  Oh,  the  fearful  change 
since  last  I  had  seen  him !  It  required  the  strongest 
effort  of  which  I  Avas  capable  to  maintain  my  self-con- 


AT   HIS   BEDSIDE.  465 

trol.  When  he  left  me  on  the  morning  of  the  29th, 
going  forth  so  cheerfully  and  bravely  to  the  call  of 
duty,  he  was  in  the  full  flush  of  vigorous  manhood, 
and  during  that  last,  blessed  visit,  I  never  saw  him 
look  so  handsome,  so  happy,  and  so  noble.  JSfow,  his 
fearful  wounds,  his  mutilated  arm,  the  scratches 
upon  his  face,  and,  above  all,  the  desperate  pneumo- 
nia, which  was  flushing  his  cheeks,  oppressing  his 
breathing,  and  benumbing  his  senses,  wrung  my  soul 
with  such  grief  and  anguish  as  it  had  never  before  ex- 
perienced. He  had  to  be  aroused  to  speak  to  me,  and 
expressed  much  joy  and  thankfulness  at  seeing  me; 
but  he  was  too  much  afi^ected  by  morphia  to  resist 
stupor,  and  soon  seemed  to  lose  the  consciousness  of 
my  presence,  except  Avhen  I  spoke  or  ministered  to 
him.  From  the  time  I  reached  him  he  was  too  ill  to 
notice  or  talk  much,  and  he  lay  most  of  the  time  in  a 
semi-conscious  state  ;  but  when  aroused,  he  recognized 
those  about  him  and  consciousness  would  return. 
Soon  after  I  entered  his  room  he  was  impressed  by 
the  woful  anxiety  and  sadness  betrayed  in  my  face, 
and  said :  "  My  darling,  you  must  cheer  up,  and  not 
wear  a  long  face.  I  love  cheerfulness  and  brightness 
in  a  sick-room."  And  he  requested  me  to  speak  dis- 
tinctly, as  he  wished  to  hear  every  w^ord  I  said. 
Whenever  he  awakened  from  his  stupor,  he  always 
had  some  endearing  words  to  say  to  me,  such  as,  "  My 
darling,  you  are  very  much  loved ;"  "  You  are  one  of 
the  most  precious  little  waives  in  the  world."  He  told 
me  he  knew  I  would  be  glad  to  take  his  place,  but 
God  knew  what  Avas  best  for  us.  Thinking  it  would 
cheer  him  more  than  anything  else  to  see  the  baby  in 
whom  he  had  so  delighted,  I  proposed  several  times 
30 


466  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

to  brinof  her  to  his  bedside,  but  he  always  said,  "  Not 
yet ;  wait  till  I  feel  better."  He  was  invariably  pa- 
tient, never  uttering  a  murmur  or  complaint.  Some- 
times, in  slight  delirium,  he  talked,  and  liis  mind  was 
then  generally  upon  his  military  duties — caring  for 
his  soldiers,  and  giving  such  directions  as  these : 
'•  Tell  Major  Hawkes  to  send  forward  provisions  to 
the  men ;''  ''  Order  A.  P.  Hill  to  prepare  for  action  ;'' 
"  Pass  the  infantry  to  the  front,"  etc.  Our  friends 
around  us,  seeing  how  critical  was  his  condition,  and 
how  my  whole  time  was  given  up  to  him,  determined 
to  send  to  Richmond  for  Mrs.  Hoge  to  come  to  my  re- 
lief, and  assist  in  taking  care  of  my  baby.  Hetty  had 
been  faithful  to  her  little  charge,  but  the  presence  of 
Mrs.  Hoge,  who  was  of  a  singular!}^  bright,  affection- 
ate, and  sympathetic  nature,  and  her  loving  ministra- 
tions in  this  time  of  sorest  trial,  were  of  inestimable 
value  and  comfort. 

Friday  and  Saturday  passed  in  much  the  same  way 
— bringing  no  favorable  change  to  the  dear  sufferer ; 
indeed,  his  fever  and  restlessness  increased,  and,  al- 
though everything  was  done  for  his  relief  and  benefit, 
he  was  growing  perceptibly  weaker.  On  Saturday 
evening,  in  the  hope  of  soothing  him,  I  proposed  read- 
ing some  selections  from  the  Psalms.  At  first  he  re- 
plied  that  he  was  suffering  too  much  to  listen,  but 
very  soon  he  added  :  "  Yes,  we  must  never  refuse 
that.    Get  the  Bible  and  read  them." 

As  night  approached,  and  he  grew  more  Avearied, 
he  requested  me  to  sing  to  him — asking  that  the  songs 
should  be  the  most  spiritual  that  could  be  selected. 
My  brother  Joseph  assisted  me  in  singing  a  few 
hymns,  and  at  my  husband's  request  we  concluded 
with  the  51st  Psalm  in  verse : 


THE   END   DRAWING  NEAR.  4^7 

"  Show  pity,  Lord  ;  O  Lord,  forgive." 

The  singing  had  a  quieting  effect,  and  he  seemed 
to  rest  in  perfect  peace. 

Dr.  S.  B.  Morrison,  a  relative  of  mine,  and  Dr. 
David  Tucker,  of  Riciimond,  had  both  been  called  in 
consultation  by  Dr.  McGuire.  As  Dr.  Morrison  was 
examining  the  patient,  he  looked  up  pleasantly  at 
him,  and  said,  "  That's  an  old  familiar  face." 

On  Saturday  afternoon  he  asked  to  see  his  chaplain, 
Mr.  Lacy,  but  his  respiration  being  now  very  difficult, 
it  was  not  thought  prudent  for  him  to  converse,  and 
an  attempt  was  made  to  dissuade  him.  But  he  was 
so  persistent  that  it  was  deemed  best  to  gratify  him. 
When  Mr.  Lacy  entered  he  inquired  of  him  if  he  was 
trying  to  further  those  views  of  Sabbath  observance 
of  which  he  had  spoken  to  him.  Upon  being  assured 
that  this  was  being  done,  he  expressed  much  gratifica- 
tion, and  talked  for  some  time  upon  that  subject — his 
last  care  and  effort  for  the  church  of  Christ  being  to 
secure  the  sanctification  of  the  Lord's  day. 

Apprehending  the  nearness  of  his  end,  Mr.  Lacy 
wished  to  remain  with  him  on  Sunday,  but  he  insisted 
that  he  should  go,  as  usual,  and  preach  to  the  soldiers. 
When  Major  Pendleton  came  to  his  bedside  about 
noon,  he  inquired  of  him,  "  Who  is  preaching  at 
headquarters  to-day  ?"  When  told  that  Mr.  Lacy 
was,  and  that  the  whole  army  was  praying  for  him, 
he  said,  "  Thank  God ;  they  are  very  kind."  As  soon 
as  the  chaplain  appeared  at  headquarters  that  morn- 
ing. General  Lee  anxiously  inquired  after  General 
Jackson's  condition,  and  upon  hearing  how  hopeless 
it  was,  he  exclaimed,  with  deep  feeling :  "  Surely 
General  Jackson  must  recover.    God  will  not  take  him 


4:QS  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

from  us,  now  that  we  need  him  so  much.  Surely  he 
will  be  spared  to  us.  in  answer  to  the  many  prayers 
which  are  offered  for  him/'  And  upon  Mr.  Lacy's 
leaving,  he  said :  "  AVhen  you  return,  I  trust  a^ou 
will  find  him  better.  AYhen  a  suitable  occasion  offers, 
give  him  my  love,  and  tell  him  that  I  wrestled  in 
prayer  for  him  last  night  as  I  never  prayed,  I  believe, 
for  m3'self ."  Here  his  voice  became  choked  with  emo- 
tion, and  he  turned  away  to  hide  his  intense  feeling. 

Shortly  after  the  general's  fall,  and  before  his  situa- 
tion had  grown  so  critical,  General  Lee  sent  him,  by 
a  friend,  the  following  message  :  "  Give  him  my  af- 
fectionate reo-ards,  and  tell  him  to  make  haste  and  wt 
well,  and  come  back  to  me  as  soon  as  he  can.  He  has 
lost  his  left  arm,  but  I  have  lost  my  right  arm." 

Mr.  Lacy  was  truly  a  spiritual  comforter  and  help 
to  me  in  those  dark  and  agonizing  days.  Often  when 
I  was  called  out  of  the  sick-chamber  to  my  little  nurs- 
ling, before  returning  we  would  meet  together,  and. 
bowing  down  before  the  throne  of  grace,  pour  out 
our  hearts  to  God  to  spare  that  precious,  useful  life, 
if  consistent  loitli  His  laill ;  for  w^ithout  this  condi- 
tion, which  the  Saviour  himself  enjoins,  we  dared  not 
plead  for  that  life,  infinitely  dearer,  as  it  was,  than 
my  own. 

In  order  to  stimulate  his  fast-faihng  powers,  he 
was  offered  some  brandy  and  water,  but  he  showed 
great  repugnance  to  it.  saying  excitedly,  ''  It  tastes 
like  fire,  and  cannot  do  me  any  good."  Early  on 
Sunday  morning,  the  lOtli  of  iMay,  I  was  called  out 
of  the  sick-room  by  Dr.  Morrison,  who  told  me  that 
the  doctors,  having  done  everything  tliat  human  skill 
could  devise  to  stav  the  hand  of  death,  had  lost  all 


SINKING  INTO  UNCONSCIOUSNESS.  ^69 

hope,  and  that  my  precious,  brave,  noble  husband 
could  not  live !  Indeed,  life  was  fast  ebbing  awa}^  and 
they  felt  that  they  must  prepare  me  for  the  inevi- 
table event,  which  was  now  a  question  of  only  a  few^ 
short  hours.  As  soon  as  I  could  arise  from  this  stun- 
ning blow,  I  told  Dr.  Morrison  that  my  husband  must 
be  informed  of  his  condition.  I  well  knew  that  death 
to  him  was  but  the  opening  of  the  gates  of  pearl  into 
the  inneffable  glories  of  heaven ;  but  I  had  lieard  him 
say  that,  although  he  was  willing  and  ready  to  die  at 
any  moment  that  God  might  call  him,  still  he  would 
prefer  to  have  a  few  hours'  preparation  before  entering 
into  the  presence  of  his  Maker  and  Redeemer. 

I  therefore  felt  it  to  be  my  duty  to  gratify  his 
desire.  He  now  appeared  to  be  fast  sinking  into  un- 
consciousness, but  he  heard  my  voice  and  understood 
me  better  than  others,  and  God  o^ave  me  the  streno^th 
and  composure  to  hold  a  last  sacred  interview  with 
him,  in  which  I  tried  to  impress  upon  him  his  situa- 
tion, and  learn  his  dying  wishes.  This  was  all  the 
harder,  because  he  had  never,  from  the  time  that  he 
first  rallied  from  his  wounds,  thought  he  would  die, 
and  had  expressed  the  belief  that  God  still  had 
work  for  him  to  do,  and  would  raise  him  up  to  do 
it.  "When  I  told  him  the  doctors  thought  he  would 
soon  be  in  heaven,  he  did  not  seem  to  comprehend 
it,  and  showed  no  surprise  or  concern.  But  upon 
repeating  it,  and  asking  him  if  he  was  willing  for 
God  to  do  with  him  according  to  His  own  will,  he 
looked  at  me  calmly  and  intelligentl}^,  and  said, 
"  Yes,  I jprefer  it^  I jprefer  UP  I  then  told  him  that 
before  that  day  was  over  he  would  be  with  the 
blessed  Saviour  in  His  glory.     With  perfect  distinct- 


470  I^II-'E   OF  GENERAL  THOMAS   J.  JACKSOX. 

ness  and  intelligence,  he  said,  '-I  will  he  an  infinite 
gainer  to  be  translated."  I  then  asked  him  if  it  was 
his  wish  that  I  should  return,  with  our  infant,  to 
niv  father's  home  in  North  Carohna.  He  answered, 
''  Yes,  you  have  a  kind,  good  father ;  but  no  one  is 
so  kind  and  good  as  your  Heavenly  Father."  He 
said  he  had  many  things  to  sa}^  to  me,  but  he  was 
then  too  weak.  Preferring  to  know  his  own  desire 
as  to  the  place  of  his  burial,  I  asked  him  the  ques- 
tion, but  his  mind  w^as  now  o^rowing-  clouded  as^ain. 
and  at  first  he  replied,  "Charlotte,"  and  afterwards 
"  Charlottesville.''  I  then  asked  him  if  he  did  not 
wish  to  be  buried  in  Lexington,  and  he  answered  at 
once,  "  Yes,  Lexington,  and  in  my  own  jplotP  He 
had  bought  this  plot  himself,  when  our  first  child 
died,  as  a  burial  pla(^e  for  his  family. 

Mrs.  Hoge  now  came  in,  bearing  little  Julia  in  her 
arms,  with  Hetty  following,  and  although  he  had  al- 
most ceased  to  notice  anything,  as  soon  as  they  entered 
the  door  he  looked  up,  his  countenance  brightened 
with  delight,  and  he  never  smiled  more  sweetly  as  he 
exclaimed,  "  Little  darling  !  sweet  one  !"  She  was 
seated  on  the  bed  by  his  side,  and  after  w-atching  her 
intently,  with  radiant  smiles,  for  a  few  moments,  he 
closed  his  eyes,  as  if  in  prayer.  Though  she  was  suf- 
fering the  pangs  of  extreme  hunger,  from  long  absence 
from  her  mother,  she  seemed  to  forget  her  discomfort 
in  the  joy  of  seeing  that  loving  face  beam  on  her  once 
more,  and  she  looked  at  him  and  smiled  as  long  as  he 
continued  to  notice  her.  Tears  were  shed  over  that 
dying  bed  by  strong  men  who  were  unused  to  weep, 
and  it  was  touching  to  see  the  genuine  grief  of  his 
servant,  Jim,  who  nursed  him  faithfully  to  the  end. 


"LET    US  CROSS  OVER  THE  RIVER."  471 

He  now  sank  rapidly  into  unconsciousness,  murmur- 
ing disconnected  words  occasionally,  but  all  at  once 
he  spoke  out  very  cheerfully  and  distinctly  the  beau- 
tiful sentence  which  has  become  immortal  as  his  last : 
"  Let  us  cross  over  the  river,  and  rest  under  the  shade 
of  the  trees." 

"Was  his  soul  wandering  back  in  dreams  to  the 
river  of  his  beloved  Valley,  the  Shenandoah  (the  '  river 
of  sparkling  waters '),  whose  verdant  meads  and  groves 
he  had  redeemed  from  the  invader,  and  across  whose 
floods  he  had  so  often  won  his  passage  through  the 
toils  of  battle?  Or  was  he  reaching  forward  across 
the  Eiver  of  Death,  to  the  golden  streets  of  the  Celes- 
tial City,  and  the  trees  whose  leaves  are  for  the  heal- 
ing of  the  nations  ?  It  was  to  these  that  God  was  bring- 
ing him,  through  his  last  battle  and  victory ;  and  un- 
der their  shade  he  walks,  with  the  blessed  company  of 
the  redeemed." 

General  Jackson  had  expressed  the  desire,  when  in 
health,  that  he  might  enter  into  the  rest  that  remains 
for  God's  people  on  the  Lord's  day.  His  wish  was 
now  gratified,  and  his  Heavenly  Father  translated  him 
from  the  toils  and  trials  of  earth,  soon  after  the  noon 
of  as  beautiful  and  perfect  a  May  day  as  ever  shed  its 
splendor  upon  this  world,  to  those  realms  of  everlast- 
ing rest  and  bliss  where 

"  Sabbaths  have  no  end, 
And  the  noontide  of  glory  eternally  reigns." 

Never  shall  I  forget  Mr.  Lacy's  ministrations  of  con- 
solation to  my  bleeding  heart  on  that  holiest  of  Sab- 
bath afternoons.  Seated  by  my  bedside,  he  talked  so 
of  Heaven,  giving  such  glowing  descriptions  of  its 


472  I^'^FE    OF  GENERAL   THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

blessedness,  and  following  in  imagination  the  ran- 
somed, glorified  spirit,  through  the  gates  into  the  city, 
that  at  last  peace,  the  "  peace  of  God,"  came  into  my 
soul,  and  I  felt  that  it  was  selfish  to  wish  to  bring 
back  to  this  sorrowful  earth,  for  mij  happiness,  one 
who  had  made  such  a  bhssful  exchange.  But  this 
frame  of  mind  did  not  last,  and  many  were  the  sub- 
sequent conflicts  to  attain  and  keep  this  spirit. 

The  remains  were  carefully  prepared  by  the  loving 
hands  of  the  staff-ofiicers,  the  body  being  embalmed 
and  clothed  in  an  ordinary  dress,  and  then  wrapped 
in  a  dark-blue  military  overcoat.  Ilis  Confederate 
uniform  had  been  cut  almost  to  pieces  by  his  attend- 
ants, in  their  endeavor  to  reach  and  bind  up  his  wounds, 
on  the  night  of  his  fall.  Late  in  the  evening  I  went 
into  Mr.  Chandler's  parlor  to  see  all  tliat  Avas  left  of 
the  one  who  had  been  to  me  the  truest,  tenderest,  and 
dearest  of  all  the  relations  of  earth — the  husband  of 
whom  I  had  been  so  proud,  and  for  whom  I  thought 
no  honors  or  distinctions  too  great ;  but  above  all  this 
I  prized  and  revered  his  exalted  Christian  character, 
and  knew  that  God  had  now  given  him  ''a  crown  of 
righteousness." 

Yet  how  unspeakable  and  incalculable  was  his  loss 
to  me  and  that  fatherless  baby  !  Dead  !  in  the  merid- 
ian of  his  grand  life,  before  he  had  attained  the  age 
of  forty  years  !     But  "  alive  in  C/rrist;^  for  evermore  ! 

All  traces  of  suffering  had  disappeared  from  the 
noble  face,  and,  although  somewhat  emaciated,  the 
expression  was  serene  and  elevated,  and  he  looked  far 
more  natural  than  I  had  dared  to  hope. 

That  night,  after  a  few  hours'  sleep  from  sheer  ex- 
haustion, I  awoke,  when  all  in  my  chamber  was  per- 


THE   MOURNFUL   RETURN    TO   RICHMOND.  473 

feet  stillness,  and  the  full  moon  poured  a  flood  of  light 
through  the  windows,  glorious  enough  to  lift  my  soul 
heavenwards ;  but  oh  !  the  agony  and  anguish  of  those 
silent  midnight  hours,  when  the  terrible  reality  of  my 
loss  and  the  desolation  of  widowhood  forced  itself 
upon  me,  and  took  possession  of  my  whole  being ! 
My  unconscious  little  one  lay  sweetly  sleeping  by  my 
side,  and  my  kind  friend,  Mrs.  Hoge,  w^as  near ;  but  I 
strove  not  to  awaken  them,  and  all  alone  I  stemmed 
the  torrent  of  grief  which  seemed  insupportable,  nntil 
prayer  to  Him,  who  alone  can  comfort,  again  brought 
peace  and  quietness  to  my  heart. 

The  next  morning  I  went  once  more  to  see  the  re- 
mains, which  were  now  in  the  casket,  and  were  cov- 
ered with  spring  flowers.  His  dear  face  w^as  wreathed 
with  the  lovely  lily  of  the  valley — the  emblem  of  hu- 
mility— his  own  predominating  grace,  and  it  seemed  to 
me  no  flowers  could  have  been  so  appropriate  for  him. 
Since  then,  I  never  see  a  lily  of  the  valley  without  its 
recalling  the  tenderest  and  most  sacred  associations. 

On  Monda}^  morning  began  the  sad  journey  to 
Eichmond.  A  special  car  had  been  set  apart  for  us,  in 
which  were  Mr.  Lacy  and  the  staff-officers,  while  Mrs. 
Hoge  and  Mrs.  Chandler  were  my  attendants,  and 
proved  themselves  the  kindest  of  friends  and  comfort- 
ers. Upon  reaching  the  suburbs  of  the  city,  the  train 
stopped,  and  we  were  met  by  Mrs.  Governor  Letcher 
and  other  ladies,  with  several  carriages,  and  driven 
through  the  most  retired  streets  to  the  governor's 
mansion.  Kind  friends  had  also  in  readiness  for  me 
a  mourning  outfit.  These  were  indeed  most  thought- 
ful considerations  on  their  part,  and  could  not  have 
been  more  gratefully  appreciated. 


474     LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

The  funeral  cortege  then  proceeded  on  its  way  into 
the  citv,  and  was  followed  for  two  miles  bv  thrones 
of  people. 

"  Business  had  been  suspended,  and  the  whole  city 
came  forth  to  meet  the  dead  chieftain.  Amidst  a  sol- 
emn silence,  only  broken  by  the  boom  of  the  minute- 
guns  and  the  wails  of  a  military  dirge,  the  coffin  was 
borne  into  the  governor's  gates,  and  hidden  for  a  time 
from  the  eyes  of  the  multitude,  that  were  wet  with 
tears." 

The  casket,  enveloped  in  the  Confederate  flag,  and 
laden  with  spring  flowers,  was  placed  in  the  centre  of 
the  reception-room  in  the  Executive  Mansion.  It  was 
here  that  I  looked  upon  the  face  of  my  husband  for 
the  last  time.  Xo  change  had  taken  place,  but,  the 
coffin  having  been  sealed,  the  beloved  face  could  only 
be  seen  through  the  glass  plate,  which  was  disappoint- 
ing and  unsatisfactory.  In  honor  of  the  dead,  the 
next  day  a  great  civic  and  military  procession  took 
place.  The  body  was  carried  through  the  main  streets 
of  the  city,  the  pall-bearers  being  six  major  and  brig- 
adier generals,  dressed  in  full  uniform.  The  hearse, 
draped  in  mourning,  and  drawn  by  four  white  horses, 
was  followed  by  his  horse,  led  by  a  groom ;  next  by 
his  staff-officers  ;  regiments  of  infantry  and  artillery ; 
then  a  vast  array  of  officials — the  President,  Cabinet, 
and  all  the  general  officers  in  Richmond — after  whom 
came  a  multitude  of  dignitaries  and  citizens ;  and  then 
all  returned  to  the  Capitol. 

''  Every  place  of  business  was  closed,  and  every  ave- 
nue thronged  with  solemn  and  tearful  spectators,  while 
a  silence  more  impressive  than  that  of  the  Sabbath 
brooded   over   the  whole   town.      "When   the   hearse 


LAID   IN   STATE  IN   THE   CAPITOL.  475 

reached  the  steps  of  the  Capitol,  the  pall-bearers, 
headed  by  General  Longstreet,  the  great  comrade  of 
the  departed,  bore  the  corpse  into  the  lower  house  of 
the  Congress,  where  it  was  placed  on  a  kind  of  altar, 
draped  with  snowy  white,  before  the  speaker's  chair. 
The  coffin  was  still  enfolded  with  the  white,  blue,  and 
red  of  the  Confederate  flag. 

"  The  Congress  of  the  Confederate  States  had  a  short 
time  before  adopted  a  design  for  their  flag,  and  a  large 
and  elegant  model  had  just  been  completed,  the  first 
ever  made,  which  was  intended  to  l)e  unfurled  from 
the  roof  of  the  Capitol.  This  flag  the  President  had 
sent,  as  the  gift  of  the  countrj^,  to  be  the  winding- 
sheet  of  General  Jackson.'- 

During  the  remainder  of  the  day  the  body  lay  in 
state,  and  was  visited  by  fully  twenty  thousand  per- 
sons—the women  bringing  flowers,  until  not  only  the 
bier  was  covered,  but  the  table  on  which  it  rested  over- 
flowed with  piles  of  these  numerous  tributes  of  afl'ec- 
tion. 

At  the  hour  appointed  for  closing  the  doors  the 
multitude  was  still  streaming  in,  and  an  old  wounded 
soldier  was  seen  pressing  forward  to  take  his  last  look 
at  the  face  of  his  loved  commander.  He  was  told  that 
he  was  too  late — the  casket  was  then  being  closed  for 
the  last  time,  and  the  order  had  been  given  to  clear 
the  hall.  He  still  endeavored  to  advance,  when  one 
of  the  marshals  threatened  to  arrest  him  if  he  did  not 
obey  orders.  The  old  soldier  hereupon  lifted  up  the 
stump  of  his  mutilated  arm,  and  with  tears  streaming 
from  his  eyes,  exclaimed :  "  By  this  arm  which  I  lost 
for  my  country,  I  demand  the  privilege  of  seeing 
my  general  once  more."     The  kind  heart  of  Governor 


476  LIFE    OF    GENP:RAL   THOMAS  J.  JACKSON. 

Letcher  was  so  touched  b}^  this  a])peal  that  at  his 
intercession  the  old  soldier's  petition  was  granted. 

The  tears  which  were  dropped  over  his  bier  by  strong 
men  and  gentle  women  were  the  most  true  and  hon- 
orable tributes  that  could  be  paid  him,  and  even  little 
children  were  held  up  by  their  parents  that  they  might 
reverently  behold  his  face  and  stamp  his  name  upon 
their  memories. 

While  all  these  public  demonstrations  were  taking 
place  in  the  Capitol,  how  different  was  the  scene  in 
my  darkened  chamber,  near  by  !  A  few  loving  friends 
came  to  mingle  their  tears  with  mine,  among  whom 
was  my  motherly  friend,  Mrs.  William  X.  Page,  and 
my  eldest  brother,  Major  W.  "W.  Morrison,  arrived 
that  day  from  Korth  Carolina.  Both  of  these  dear 
ones  accompanied  me  on  the  remainder  of  the  sad  pil- 
grimage to  Lexington.  I  also  received  a  precious  visit 
from  the  Kev.  Dr.  T.  Y.  Moore,  whom  I  had  never 
met  before,  but  his  winning  gentleness  of  face,  his 
selections  of  the  most  comforting  passages  of  Script- 
ure—  such  as  the  l-ith  chapter  of  John,  beginning, 
"  Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled ;  ye  believe  in  God, 
believe  also  in  me  '• — and  his  fervent,  touching  prayer 
could  not  have  been  more  grateful  and  soothing — 
proving  balm,  indeed,  to  my  wounded,  crushed  heart. 
I  never  saw  him  again,  but  he,  too,  has  long  since 
joined  that  "  army  of  the  living  God,'' 

'•  Part  of -whose  host  have  crossed  the  flood, 
And  part  are  crossing  now." 

Little  Julia  was  an  object  of  great  interest  to  her 
father's  friends  and  admirers,  and  so  numerous  were 
the  requests  to  see  her  that  Hetty,  finding  the  child 


FUNERAL   JOURXEY   TO   LEXIXGTOX.  477 

gro\Ying  worried  at  so  much  notice  and  handling, 
sought  a  refuge  beyond  the  reach  of  the  crowd.  She 
ensconced  herself,  with  her  little  charge,  close  to  the 
wall  of  the  house,  underneath  my  window  in  the  back 
yard,  and  there  I  heard  her  crooning,  and  bewailing 
that  "  people  would  give  her  baby  no  rest." 

On  Wednesday  morning  we  again  set  out  on  our 
protracted  funeral  journey,  going  by  the  way  of 
Gordonsville  to  Lynchburg,  and  all  along  the  route, 
at  every  station  at  which  a  stop  was  made,  were  as- 
sembled crowds  of  people,  and  many  were  the  floral 
offerings  handed  in  for  the  bier.  His  child  was  often 
called  for,  and,  on  several  occasions,  was  handed  in 
and  out  of  the  car  windows  to  be  kissed. 

Xo  stop  was  made  at  Lynchburg,  but  a  vast  throng 
was  there  to  attest  their  interest  and  affection,  and  to 
present  flowers.  Here  we  took  the  canal-boat  which 
was  to  convey  us  to  Lexington,  and  on  Thursda}^  even- 
ing, with  our  precious  burden,  we  reached  the  little 
village  which  had  been  so  dear  to  him,  and  where  his 
body  was  now  to  repose  until  "  the  last  trump  shall 
sound  "  and  "  this  mortal  shall  have  put  on  immortal- 
ity." 

At  Lexington  our  pastor.  Dr.  White,  and  our 
friends  and  neighbors  met  us  in  tears  and  sorrow. 
The  remains  were  taken  in  charge  by  the  corps  of 
cadets  of  the  Virginia  Military  Institute,  and  carried 
to  the  lecture -room  where  General  Jackson,  while 
professor,  had  taught  for  ten  years,  and  were  guarded 
during  the  night  by  his  former  pupils. 

On  Friday,  May  15th,  the  body  was  again  escorted 
by  the  officers  and  cadets  of  the  Institute,  together 
with   the    citizens,  to   the    Presbyterian    Church,  in 


478     LIFE  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS  J.  JACKSOX. 

which  he  had  so  loved  to  worship,  where  the  services 
were  conducted  in  the  simplest  manner  by  the  pas- 
tor and  other  visiting  ministers.  Conspicuous  among 
these  was  General  Jackson's  valued  friend.  Dr.  Ram- 
sey, of  L3mchburg,  who  offered  a  prayer  of  wonder- 
ful pathos.  The  hymn  "  How  blest  the  righteous 
when  he  dies !"  was  sung,  after  which  Dr.  White  read 
the  15th  chapter  of  I.  Corinthians  —  that  sublime 
description  of  the  resurrection  of  Christ  and  of  the 
believer;  and  then  delivered  an  address,  which  was 
as  just  and  appropriate  as  it  was  heartfelt  and  affect- 
ing. The  casket,  followed  by  a  long  procession  of 
people,  from  far  and  near,  was  borne  to  the  cemetery, 
and.  with  military  honors,  was  at  last  committed  to 
the  grave. 

The  spot  where  he  rests  is  "  beautiful  for  situa- 
tion '' — the  gentle  eminence  commanding  the  loveliest 
views  of  peaceful,  picturesque  valleys,  beyond  which, 
like  faithful  sentinels,  rise  the  everlasting  hills. 

My  pastor  took  me  to  his  own  home,  and  never 
could  the  loving-kindness  and  sympathy  of  true 
hearts  be  exceeded  by  that  of  himself,  his  family, 
and  the  good  people  of  Lexington  to  me,  in  this  hour 
of  deepest  affliction  and  bereavement.  When  the 
time  came  for  my  sad  departure  from  my  once  happy, 
married  home,  the  noble  people  of  Virginia  extended 
to  me  every  kindness.  I  was  provided  with  two 
escorts  to  convey  me  to  my  father's  home  in  North 
Carolina ;  one  of  General  Jackson's  staff  being  de- 
tailed by  the  military  authorities  to  attend  me;  and 
the  Virginia  Military  Institute,  wishing  to  do  honor 
to  the  name  of  its  late  professor,  also  sent  one  of  his 
colleagues  upon  the  same  mission.     1  mention  these 


THE    JACKSON    STATUE    BY   FOLEY,    RICHMOND. 


WHERE   HE   SLEEPS   AT    LAST. 


479 


facts  simply  in  token  of  gratitude,  and  realizing  that 
these  and  all  the  tributes  paid  to  my  hero-husband 
are  but  evidences  of  the  love  and  veneration  in  which 
his  name  and  memory  are  enshrined  in  the  hearts  of 
his  countrymen,  and  of  the  good  and  noble  of  all 
lands. 


"""v) /«!('<,/ 


JACKSON  S   TOMB,    LEXINGTON,    VIRGINIA. 


..  ^/vfe^v"      ^    ^.^.^^U. .       V^^.1^^^ 


ckU-^./zy^^ 


